Opinion
1:11-cv-0972-LJO-JLT (PC) Doc. 16
01-06-2012
JOSEPH MARTINEZ GARCIA, Plaintiff, v. JAMES YATES, Defendants.
ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL
On December 29, 2011, plaintiff filed a motion seeking the appointment of counsel. Plaintiff does not have a constitutional right to appointed counsel in this action, Rand v. Rowland, 113 F.3d 1520, 1525 (9th Cir. 1997), and the court cannot require an attorney to represent plaintiff pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1). Mallard v. United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, 490 U.S. 296, 298, 109 S.Ct. 1814, 1816 (1989). However, in certain exceptional circumstances the court may request the voluntary assistance of counsel pursuant to section 1915(e)(1). Rand, 113 F.3d at 1525.
Without a reasonable method of securing and compensating counsel, the court will seek volunteer counsel only in the most serious and exceptional cases. In determining whether "exceptional circumstances exist, the district court must evaluate both the likelihood of success of the merits [and] the ability of the [plaintiff] to articulate his claims pro se in light of the complexity of the legal issues involved." Rand, 113 F.3d at 1525. (internal quotation marks and citations omitted).
In the present case, the court does not find the required exceptional circumstances. Even if it is assumed that plaintiff is not well-versed in the law and that he has made serious allegations which, if proven, would entitle him to relief, his case is not exceptional. Here, Plaintiff contends that various that his various medical issues impact his ability to litigate. However, both the instant motion and Plaintiff's complaint suggest that he is currently able to adequately articulate his claims. Additionally, this court is faced with similar cases almost daily and at this early stage in the proceedings, the court cannot make a determination that plaintiff is likely to succeed on the merits. Rand, 113 F.3d at 1525.
For the foregoing reasons, plaintiff's motion for the appointment of counsel is HEREBY DENIED, without prejudice.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Jennifer L. Thurston
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE