(PC) Ilsung v. Yarmolyuk

Opinion

VICTORY ILSUNG, No. 2:20-cv-0033-EFB P Plaintiff, v. ORDER YARMOLYUK, et al., Defendants. Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding without counsel in an action brought under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. He requests that the court appoint counsel. District courts lack authority to require counsel to represent indigent prisoners in section 1983 cases. Mallard v. United States Dist. Court, 490 U.S. 296, 298 (1989). In exceptional circumstances, the court may request an attorney to voluntarily to represent such a plaintiff. See 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). When determining whether “exceptional circumstances” exist, the court must consider the likelihood of success on the merits as well as the ability of the plaintiff to articulate his claims pro se in light of the complexity of the legal issues involved. Palmer v. Valdez, 560 F.3d 965, 970 (9th Cir. 2009). Having considered those factors, the court finds there are no exceptional circumstances in this case. The court will, however, grant plaintiff an extension of time to file his amended complaint pursuant to the court’s May 13, 2020 order. wOOe 2 CUVEE EP BP MMVVUPTOCII tt Pea Vette PAY eT

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that plaintiffs request for the appointment of counsel (ECF No. 10) is denied. Plaintiff shall file his amended complaint within thirty days from the date of service of this order. DATED: June 11, 2020. Z ps oe EDMUND F. BRENNAN UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE