Ralon

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

DOMITILA PELAEZ RALON,

Case No. 23-cv-03344-JCS Plaintiff, 8 v. ORDER DENYING MOTION TO APPOINT COUNSEL

KAISER FOUNDATION HEALTH PLAN,

INC., et al., Re: Dkt. No. 60 Defendants.

12 Plaintiff has filed a motion asking the Court to appoint pro bono counsel (“Motion”). The Motion is DENIED without prejudice. There is no right to counsel in a civil case. However, under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1), the Court is authorized to appoint an attorney to represent any person unable to afford counsel under “exceptional circumstances.” 28 U.S.C § 1915(e)(1); United States v. Madden, 352 F.2d 792, 794 (9th Cir. 1965). To appoint counsel under this section, the Court must find that a party is unable to afford counsel, that is, that they qualify for in forma pauperis status, and that they meet the “exceptional circumstances” requirement. “A finding of exceptional circumstances requires an …