Williams v. Lee County

Opinion

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF MISSISSIPPI ABERDEEN DIVISION

MATTHEW WILLIAMS PLAINTIFF

v. No. 1:20CV194-NBB-JMV

LEE COUNTY DEFENDANT

ORDER DENYING APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL

Pro se plaintiff requests appointment of counsel to represent him in this action brought under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. There is no automatic right to counsel in a § 1983 case. Wright v. Dallas County Sheriff’s Department, 660 F.2d 623, 625-26 (5th Cir. 1981); Cupit v. Jones, 835 F.2d 82, 86 (5th Cir. 1987). Unless there are “exceptional circumstances,” a district court is not required to appoint counsel to represent indigent plaintiffs in a civil action. Branch v. Cole, 686 F.2d 264, 266 (5th Cir. 1982). See also, Feist v. Jefferson County Commissioners Court, 778 F.2d 250, 253 (5th Cir. 1985). In this case, however, the court has yet to conduct a hearing pursuant to Spears v. McCotter, 766 F.2d 179 (5th Cir. 1985), at which the plaintiff will have an opportunity to expound upon his claims. The instant motion is premature, and it should be denied. After observing plaintiff at a Spears hearing, if the court determines that counsel should be appointed it will do so sua sponte. It is, therefore, ORDERED: That plaintiff’s motion for appointment of counsel is DENIED. This, the 12th day of February, 2021.

/s/ Jane M. Virden UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE