Opinion
No. 2:11-cv-2152 KJN P.
October 6, 2011
ORDER
Plaintiff has requested the appointment of counsel. The United States Supreme Court has ruled that district courts lack authority to require counsel to represent indigent prisoners in § 1983 cases. Mallard v. United States Dist. Court, 490 U.S. 296, 298 (1989). In certain exceptional circumstances, the court may request the voluntary assistance of counsel pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1). Terrell v. Brewer, 935 F.2d 1015, 1017 (9th Cir. 1991); Wood v. Housewright, 900 F.2d 1332, 1335-36 (9th Cir. 1990). In the present case, the court does not find the required exceptional circumstances. Therefore, plaintiff's motion for the appointment of counsel is denied.
Plaintiff has also filed a motion for summary judgment. This motion is premature as no defendants have been served or otherwise appeared in this action. For this reason, plaintiff's motion is denied without prejudice.
Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:
1. Plaintiff's August 12, 2011 motion for summary judgment (Dkt. No. 2) is denied without prejudice;
2. Plaintiff's October 3, 2011 motion for the appointment of counsel (Dkt. No. 9) is denied.
DATED: October 5, 2011