Valenzuela v. CSP Sacramento et al
Filing
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ORDER signed by Magistrate Judge Carolyn K. Delaney on 07/24/17 denying 28 Motion to Appoint Counsel and granting 28 Motion for Extension of time. Plaintiff is granted 30 days from the date of this order in which to respond to the subpoena dated 5/26/17. (Plummer, M)
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
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FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
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SANTOS VALENZUELA,
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Plaintiff,
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v.
No. 2:16-cv-1814 CKD P
ORDER
CALIFORNIA STATE PRISON
SACRAMENTO, et al.,
Defendants.
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Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding pro se in an action brought under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
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Plaintiff requests that the court appoint counsel. District courts lack authority to require counsel
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to represent indigent prisoners in section 1983 cases. Mallard v. United States Dist. Court, 490
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U.S. 296, 298 (1989). In exceptional circumstances, the court may request an attorney to
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voluntarily represent such a plaintiff. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1). Terrell v. Brewer, 935 F.2d
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1015, 1017 (9th Cir. 1991); Wood v. Housewright, 900 F.2d 1332, 1335-36 (9th Cir. 1990).
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When determining whether “exceptional circumstances” exist, the court must consider plaintiff’s
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likelihood of success on the merits as well as the ability of the plaintiff to articulate his claims pro
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se in light of the complexity of the legal issues involved. Palmer v. Valdez, 560 F.3d 965, 970
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(9th Cir. 2009) (district court did not abuse discretion in declining to appoint counsel). The
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burden of demonstrating exceptional circumstances is on the plaintiff. Id. Circumstances
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common to most prisoners, such as lack of legal education and limited law library access, do not
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establish exceptional circumstances that warrant a request for voluntary assistance of counsel.
Having considered the factors under Palmer, the court finds that plaintiff has failed to
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meet his burden of demonstrating exceptional circumstances warranting the appointment of
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counsel at this time.
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Additionally, plaintiff has requested an extension of time to respond to a subpoena dated
May 26, 2017. Good cause appearing that request will be granted.
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Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:
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1. Plaintiff’s request for the appointment of counsel (ECF No. 28) is denied;
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2. Plaintiff’s request for an extension of time (ECF No. 28) is granted; and
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3. Plaintiff is granted thirty days from the date of this order in which to respond to the
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subpoena dated May 26, 2017.
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Dated: July 24, 2017
_____________________________________
CAROLYN K. DELANEY
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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