Blackie Florinceo Alvarez Sr. v. Angela Richards, et al.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 BLACKIE FLORINCEO ALVAREZ SR., Case No. 2:25-cv-01586-DAD-CSK 12 Plaintiff, ORDER ON PLAINTIFF’S MOTIONS 13 v. (ECF Nos. 9, 11) 14 ANGELA RICHARDS, et al., 15 Defendants. 16 17 Plaintiff Blackie Florinceo Alvarez Sr., who is proceeding pro se, has filed a 18 motion for appointment of counsel and motion for extension of time. (ECF Nos. 9, 11). 19 Pursuant to Eastern District of California Local Rules 230(g) and 233(c), the motions are 20 submitted upon the record and the briefs. 21 I. Motion to Appoint Counsel 22 On November 19, 2025, Plaintiff filed a motion for appointment of counsel. (ECF 23 No. 9.) In civil cases, a pro se litigant's right to counsel “is a privilege and not a right.” 24 United States ex Rel. Gardner v. Madden, 352 F.2d 792, 793 (9th Cir. 1965) (citation 25 omitted). “Appointment of counsel should be allowed only in exceptional cases.” Id. 26 When determining whether “exceptional circumstances” exist, the court must consider 27 the…