Griffin v. Missouri Deparment of Corrections

Filing 4

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER re: #2 MOTION to Appoint Counsel filed by Petitioner Sherman Griffin. IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that petitioner's motion for appointment of counsel (Docket No. 2) is DENIED at this time. Signed by Magistrate Judge Abbie Crites-Leoni on 10/16/20. (CSG)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI
SOUTHEASTERN DIVISION
SHERMAN GRIFFIN,
Petitioner,
v.
MISSOURI DEPARTMENT
OF CORRECTIONS,
Respondent.

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No. 1:20-cv-00215-ACL

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
This matter is before the Court on petitioner Sherman Griffin’s motion for appointment of
counsel. (Docket No. 2). In civil cases, a pro se litigant does not have a constitutional or statutory
right to appointed counsel. Ward v. Smith, 721 F.3d 940, 942 (8th Cir. 2013). See also Stevens v.
Redwing, 146 F.3d 538, 546 (8th Cir. 1998) (stating that “[a] pro se litigant has no statutory or
constitutional right to have counsel appointed in a civil case”). Rather, a district court may appoint
counsel in a civil case if the court is “convinced that an indigent [litigant] has stated a non-frivolous
claim…and where the nature of the litigation is such that [the litigant] as well as the court will
benefit from the assistance of counsel.” Patterson v. Kelley, 902 F.3d 845, 850 (8th Cir. 2018).
When determining whether to appoint counsel for an indigent litigant, a court considers relevant
factors such as the complexity of the case, the ability of the pro se litigant to investigate the facts,
the existence of conflicting testimony, and the ability of the pro se litigant to present his or her
claim. Phillips v. Jasper Cty. Jail, 437 F.3d 791, 794 (8th Cir. 2006).
After reviewing these factors, the Court finds that the appointment of counsel is not
warranted at this time. Petitioner has demonstrated, at this point, that he can adequately present his
claims to the Court. Additionally, because the State of Missouri has not yet had the opportunity to

respond, the Court is unable to determine the potential merits of petitioner’s case, or whether
petitioner and the Court will benefit from the assistance of counsel. The Court will entertain a
future motion for appointment of counsel as the case progresses, if appropriate.
Accordingly,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that petitioner’s motion for appointment of counsel (Docket
No. 2) is DENIED at this time.
Dated this 16th day of October, 2020.

ABBIE CRITES-LEONI
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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