Blacher

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 9 MARLON BLACHER, Case No.: 20cv1270-LAB-MDD

Plaintiff,

ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF’S

v. MOTION TO APPOINT COUNSEL

RALPH DIAZ, et al., [ECF No. 22] Defendants. 14 15 On February 1, 2021, Plaintiff, a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis, moved the Court to appoint counsel. (ECF No. 22). In support, Plaintiff explains that he has “no actual access to a law library” and thus has no access to “document duplication service, pleading paper, ink pen, means for legal research, etc.” (Id. at 1-2). Plaintiff further alleges mail obstruction by the jail staff. (Id. at 2). Plaintiff argues that given his incarceration and lack of legal training, he will not know the proper motions or pleadings to file, and he will be unable to locate and interview witnesses. (Id. at 3). District courts lack authority to require counsel to represent indigent prisoners in § 1983 cases. Mallard v. United States Dist. Court, 490…