Alencastre

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 VILAYCHITH KHOUANMANY, No. 2:17-cv-1326-TLN-EFB P Plaintiff, v. ORDER UNITED STATES MARSHALS, et al., Defendants. 16 Plaintiff is a federal prisoner proceeding pro se with claims premised under Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents, 403 U.S. 388 (1971). She again requests that the court appoint counsel. As has previously been explained (see ECF Nos 31, 42, 49, 60, 64, 67, 79, 104, 124) 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…