Opinion
22-cv-05105-JSC
01-02-2024
VINCENT ROBERT MACKEY, Plaintiff, v. SGT. BAKER, et al., Defendants.
ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL
RE: DKT. NO. 50
JACQUELINE SCOTT CORLEY, United States District Judge
Plaintiff moves for appointment of a lawyer to represent him in this civil rights case. There is no right to counsel in a civil case such as this. See Lassiter v. Dep't of Social Services, 452 U.S. 18, 25 (1981). The decision to request counsel to represent an indigent litigant under § 1915 is within “the sound discretion of the trial court and is granted only in exceptional circumstances.” Franklin v. Murphy, 745 F.2d 1221, 1236 (9th Cir. 1984). Plaintiff presents no exceptional circumstances, nor are any apparent. At least at this stage, the issues in this case are not sufficiently complex, nor is Plaintiff unable to effectively present his claims, such that the interests of justice necessitate referral for location of pro bono counsel to assist Plaintiff.
Plaintiff's motion for appointment of counsel is DENIED. Should referral for location of pro bono counsel become necessary at a later time, the Court will issue a referral order on its own; Plaintiff need and shall not request appointment of counsel in this Court again.
IT IS SO ORDERED.