Brown v. Naseer

Filing 58

ORDER signed by Magistrate Judge Carolyn K. Delaney on 1/29/16 DENYING 54 and 57 Motions to Appoint Counsel and expert witness. (Dillon, M)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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DEXTER BROWN,

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Plaintiff,

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No. 2:14-cv-0225 WBS CKD P

v.

ORDER

SAHIR NASEER, et al.,

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Defendants.

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Plaintiff has requested the appointment of counsel. The United States Supreme Court has

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ruled that district courts lack authority to require counsel to represent indigent prisoners in § 1983

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cases. Mallard v. United States Dist. Court, 490 U.S. 296, 298 (1989). In certain exceptional

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circumstances, the court may request the voluntary assistance of counsel pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §

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1915(e)(1). Terrell v. Brewer, 935 F.2d 1015, 1017 (9th Cir. 1991); Wood v. Housewright, 900

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F.2d 1332, 1335-36 (9th Cir. 1990). In the present case, the court does not find the required

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exceptional circumstances. Plaintiff’s request for the appointment of counsel will therefore be

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denied.
Plaintiff also asks the court to appoint plaintiff an expert witness to analyze his food for

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poison. This is not an appropriate request. If plaintiff believes there are problems with his food,

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he should utilize the inmate grievance process at his institution.

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Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that plaintiff’s request for the appointment of

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counsel and expert witness (ECF No. 54 & 57) is denied.

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Dated: January 29, 2016

_____________________________________
CAROLYN K. DELANEY
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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1/md
brow0225.31

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