Opinion
Case No. 11-14909
06-07-2012
TONY JACOB RHODES, Plaintiff, v. CITY OF SOUTHFIELD, et. al., Defendants.
Honorable John Corbett O'Meara
ORDER DENYING APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL
Plaintiff Tony Jacob Rhodes filed an Application for Appointment of Counsel in this matter. In his pro se complaint, Plaintiff alleges Defendants violated his civil rights.
The appointment of counsel in a civil case is a privilege and not a constitutional right, one that should be allowed only in exceptional cases. Lopez v. Reyes, 692 F.2d 15, 17 (5th Cir. 1982). The United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit has advised that district courts, in considering an application for appointment of counsel in civil cases, "should at least consider plaintiff's financial resources, the efforts of plaintiff to obtain counsel, and whether plaintiff's claim appears to have any merit." Henry v. City of Detroit Manpower Dep't., 763 F.2d 757, 760 (6th Cir. 1985). In reviewing Plaintiff's application, the court finds no exceptional circumstances for the appointment of counsel.
Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED that Plaintiff's Application for Appointment of Counsel is DENIED.
John Corbett O'Meara
United States District Judge
I hereby certify that a copy of the foregoing document was served upon Plaintiff on this date, June 7, 2012, using first-class U.S. mail.
William Barkholz
Case Manager