Opinion
No. CIV S-06-0280 LKK GGH P.
January 24, 2007
ORDER
Plaintiff has requested the appointment of counsel. The court has determined that this case may be appropriate for appointment of counsel.
The United States Supreme Court has ruled that district courts lack authority to require counsel to represent indigent prisoners in § 1983 cases. Mallard v. United States Dist. Court, 490 U.S. 296, (1989). In certain exceptional circumstances, however, the court may request the voluntary assistance of counsel pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1). Terrell v. Brewer, 935 F.2d 1015 (9th Cir. 1990); Wood v. Housewright, 900 F.2d 1332 (9th Cir. 1990). In this case the court is not sure whether those exceptional circumstances exist or not. Therefore, this court will refer this case to the civil rights panel in this district for review.
Plaintiff is cautioned while the case is under review, he has responsibility to continue to prosecute his action. The court is not staying the litigation pending the review; rather the review and continued processing of this case will take place at the same time. No scheduled dates in this litigation have been vacated. Also, it may ultimately turn out that volunteer counsel may not be procurable for plaintiff's case.
Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:
1. Counsel is directed to contact the Clerk's Office to make arrangements for copies of the file; and
2. The Civil Rights Clinic should inform the court within thirty days of their decision.