(PC) Driver v. Kern County Superior Court

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 BILLY DRIVER, JR., No. 2:20-cv-1665 JAM KJN P Plaintiff, v. ORDER KERN COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT, et al., 15 Defendants.

17 Plaintiff is a state prisoner, proceeding pro se, in an action brought under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff requests that the court appoint counsel. Plaintiff also requests that the court appoint an expert witness if the request for appointment of counsel is denied. Request for Appointment of Counsel Plaintiff requests that the court appoint the Federal Public Defender to represent him in this action. The Federal Public Defender does not represent parties in actions brought pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Accordingly, the undersigned herein considers whether appointment of counsel who represent prisoners in civil rights actions is warranted. 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…