Bell v. Jefferson County Sheriff Department

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI EASTERN DIVISION

JESSE BELL, ) ) Plaintiff, ) ) v. ) No. 4:21-cv-00061-AGF ) JEFFERSON COUNTY SHERIFF ) DEPARTMENT, et al., ) ) Defendants. )

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER This matter is before the Court on Plaintiff’s motion to appoint counsel. (Doc. No. 19). There is no constitutional right for a pro se plaintiff to have counsel appointed in a civil case, although the Court has discretion to appoint counsel when necessary. Chambers v. Pennycook, 641 F.3d 898, 909 (8th Cir. 2011); Phillips v. Jasper County Jail, 437 F.3d. 791, 794 (8th Cir. 2006). Among the factors a court should consider in making this determination are the factual and legal complexity of the case, the ability of the plaintiff to present the facts and his claims, and the degree to which the plaintiff and the court would benefit from such an appointment. Phillips, 437 F.3d. at 794. This Court previously concluded that Plaintiff demonstrated he could adequately present his claims to the Court and neither the factual nor legal issues in this case are unduly complex. (Doc. No. 6). Upon review of the record thus far and the relevant factors, the Court finds that appointment of counsel is still unnecessary at this time. Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Plaintiff's motion for appointment of counsel is DENIED without prejudice. (Doc. No. 19)

AUDREY G. iG C \ UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE Dated this 27th day of August, 2021.

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