Mohyuddin

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 MICHAEL SHEPARD, Case No. 2:20-cv-01445-KJM-JDP (PC) Plaintiff, v. ORDER KELSO, et al., Defendants. 16 17 Pro se prisoner plaintiffs face unique litigation challenges. Woods v. Carey, 684 F.3d 934, 938 (9th Cir. 2012) (recognizing that pro se prisoner litigants face “unique handicaps of incarceration” (quoting Rand v. Rowland, 154 F.3d 952, 958 (9th Cir. 1998) (en banc))). Those challenges can be alleviated to some degree with the appointment of counsel, but obtaining counsel is rare. Mejia-Perez v. Ryan, No. CV-12-2040-PHX-SRBFJ, 2013 WL 1398970, at *5 (D. Ariz. Feb. 25, 2013) (“A prisoner’s ‘proceeding pro se is not a ‘rare and exceptional’ circumstance. . . .”). In this case, plaintiff was afforded that rare opportunity: Chief Judge Mueller appointed Mr. Chijioke Ikonte to represent plaintiff. ECF No. 19. But that appointment and Mr. Ikonte’s successive representation was, for lack of a better word, ineffective. Delays…