Smith v. School District 203, No. 1:2010cv04185 - Document 6 (N.D. Ill. 2010)

Court Description: WRITTEN Opinion Signed by the Honorable Robert M. Dow, Jr on 7/15/2010: For the reasons stated below, Plaintiff's application for leave to proceed in forma pauperis 4 is granted and the Court requests that the U.S. Marshal's office effect service of Plaintiff's complaint 1 . Plaintiff's motion for appointment of counsel 5 is denied without prejudice. Mailed notice(vcf, )

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Order Form (01/2005) United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois Name of Assigned Judge or Magistrate Judge Robert M. Dow Jr. CASE NUMBER 10 C 4185 CASE TITLE Sitting Judge if Other than Assigned Judge DATE 7/15/2010 Smith vs. School District 203 DOCKET ENTRY TEXT For the reasons stated below, Plaintiff s application for leave to proceed in forma pauperis [4] is granted and the Court requests that the U.S. Marshal s office effect service of Plaintiff s complaint [1]. Plaintiff s motion for appointment of counsel [5] is denied without prejudice. O[ For further details see text below.] Docketing to mail notices. STATEMENT Along with a complaint [1], Plaintiff Samanthia Smith has filed an application for leave to proceed in forma pauperis [4] and a motion for appointment of counsel [5]. Based on the representations in Plaintiff s application and financial affidavit that Plaintiff is not currently working, lacks substantial assets, receives income only from social security and disability, and has supports a child, the Court grants Plaintiff s application for leave to proceed in forma pauperis [4] and requests that the U.S. Marshal s office effect service of Plaintiff s complaint [1] (see Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(i)(2)). Plaintiff s motion for appointment of counsel [5] is denied without prejudice. Indigent parties in civil rights actions who are unable to obtain an attorney may apply to the court for appointment of counsel under 28 U.S.C.§ 1915(e)(1). However, civil litigants have no constitutional or statutory right to counsel in federal court. See Lewis v. Sullivan, 279 F.3d 526, 529 (7th Cir. 2002); Merritt v. Faulkner, 697 F. 2d 761, 763 (7th Cir. 1983). Nevertheless, a district court may, in its discretion, request an attorney to represent any person unable to afford counsel. Gil v. Reed, 381 F.3d 649, 656 (7th Cir. 2004) (citing 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1)); Luttrell v. Nickel, 129 F.3d 933, 936 (7th Cir. 1997). In deciding whether to appoint counsel, the court must first determine if the indigent has made reasonable efforts to retain counsel and was unsuccessful or that the indigent was effectively precluded from making such efforts. Gil, 381 F.3d at 656 (quoting Jackson v. County of McLean, 953 F.2d 1070, 1072 (7th Cir. 1992)). If so, the Court must consider: (1) whether, given the degree of difficulty of the case, the plaintiff appears competent to try it himself or herself; and (2) whether the assistance of counsel would provide a substantial benefit to the court or the parties, potentially affecting the outcome of the case. Gil, 381 F.3d at 656 (relying on Farmer v. Haas, 990 F.2d 319, 322 (7th Cir. 1993)). The Court should consider the capabilities of Plaintiff to litigate his or her own case in deciding whether or not to appoint counsel. Pruitt v. Mote, 503 F.3d 647, 654-55 (7th Cir. 2007) (en banc). It also should be noted that the Court grants pro se 10C4185 Smith vs. Naperville School District 203 Page 1 of 2 STATEMENT litigants wide latitude in the handling of their lawsuits. After considering the pertinent factors, the Court concludes that appointment of counsel is not warranted at this time. Although Plaintiff has made at least one inquiry in regard to retaining counsel, the Court cannot yet determine whether Plaintiff would be capable of litigating this case or whether assistance of counsel would provide a substantial benefit to the Court or the parties. Therefore, Plaintiff s motion for appointment of counsel [5] is denied without prejudice. Plaintiff may renew the motion and, indeed, the Court may reconsider the issue of appointment of counsel on its own motion after Defendant files a responsive pleading or at any later stage of the case if it appears that the standards set forth in Pruitt and Gil are satisfied. 10C4185 Smith vs. Naperville School District 203 Page 2 of 2

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