Lopez v. Thomas

Opinion

ANDREW LOPEZ, Case No. 21-cv-07136-PJH

Plaintiff, ORDER DENYING MOTION TO v. APPOINT COUNSEL

D. C. THOMAS, Re: Dkt. No. 37 Defendant.

This is a civil rights case brought pro se by a prisoner. Plaintiff has filed a motion to appoint counsel. There is no constitutional right to counsel in a civil case, Lassiter v. Dep't of Social Services, 452 U.S. 18, 25 (1981), and although district courts may “request” that counsel represent a litigant who is proceeding in forma pauperis, as plaintiff is here, see 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1), that does not give the courts the power to make “coercive appointments of counsel.” Mallard v. United States Dist. Court, 490 U.S. 296, 310 (1989). The Ninth Circuit has held that a district court may ask counsel to represent an indigent litigant only in “exceptional circumstances,” the determination of which requires an evaluation of both (1) the likelihood of success on the merits and (2) the ability of the plaintiff to articulate his claims pro se in light of the complexity of the legal issues involved. Terrell v. Brewer, 935 F.2d 1015, 1017 (9th Cir. 1991). Plaintiff has presented his claims adequately, and the issues are not complex. Therefore, the motion to appoint counsel (Docket No. 37) is DENIED without prejudice. Dated: August 1, 2022 /s/ Phyllis J. Hamilton PHYLLIS J. HAMILTON United States District Judge