Filed: Feb. 04, 2016
Latest Update: Feb. 04, 2016
Summary: ORDER HUGH B. SCOTT , Magistrate Judge . Plaintiff has filed a pro se complaint under 42 U.S.C. 1983 and has requested appointment of counsel pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1915(e)(1). (Docket No. 74.) This Court is required to see that all litigants receive proper representation of counsel under the criteria set forth in Cooper v. A. Sargenti Co., 877 F.2d 170 (2d Cir. 1989), and Hodge v. Police Officers, 802 F.2d 58 (2d Cir. 1986). In addition, courts have the inherent authority to a
Summary: ORDER HUGH B. SCOTT , Magistrate Judge . Plaintiff has filed a pro se complaint under 42 U.S.C. 1983 and has requested appointment of counsel pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1915(e)(1). (Docket No. 74.) This Court is required to see that all litigants receive proper representation of counsel under the criteria set forth in Cooper v. A. Sargenti Co., 877 F.2d 170 (2d Cir. 1989), and Hodge v. Police Officers, 802 F.2d 58 (2d Cir. 1986). In addition, courts have the inherent authority to as..
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ORDER
HUGH B. SCOTT, Magistrate Judge.
Plaintiff has filed a pro se complaint under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and has requested appointment of counsel pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1). (Docket No. 74.) This Court is required to see that all litigants receive proper representation of counsel under the criteria set forth in Cooper v. A. Sargenti Co., 877 F.2d 170 (2d Cir. 1989), and Hodge v. Police Officers, 802 F.2d 58 (2d Cir. 1986). In addition, courts have the inherent authority to assign counsel to represent private indigent litigants. See In re Smiley, 36 N.Y.2d 433, 438 (1975).
Additionally, each lawyer—especially those who are admitted to practice in federal court and who therefore are in a position to reap the benefits of such practice—has a professional obligation to provide pro bono services for the poor. See New York Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 6.1. In addition, Rule 83.1(f) of the Local Rules of Civil Procedure provides as follows:
Every member of the bar of this Court who maintains, or whose firm maintains, an office in this District, shall be available upon the Court's request for appointment to represent or assist in the representation of indigent parties. Appointments under this Rule shall be made in a manner such that no Member shall be requested to accept more than one appointment during any twelve-month period.
It is in this spirit that the Court assigns Sheldon K. Smith, Esq. and Lynette Nogueras-Trummer, Esq. of Nixon Peabody LLP, Key Towers at Fountain Plaza, 40 Fountain Plaza, Suite 500, Buffalo, New York 14202, pro bono, to faithfully and diligently represent plaintiff in this case.
The Clerk of the Court is directed to copy that portion of the file in this matter that is not currently available through PACER on the Court's Case Management/Electronic Case Management System, if any, and send it to Mr. Smith, together with a copy of this Order and the Guidelines Governing Reimbursement from the District Court Fund of Expenses Incurred by Court Appointed Counsel.1 The Chief Judge of the Court will also issue an Order directing PACER to waive its fees so Sheldon K. Smith, pro bono counsel, can access and print at no cost to him or his firm any other documents filed herein that he may need. Plaintiff's attorney is directed to contact the Court by February 29, 2016 to request a date for a status conference to discuss further proceedings in the case.
SO ORDERED.
