Can a prisoner compel the trial court to appoint counsel in a civil action?
California, United States of America
The following excerpt is from Spencer v. Sharp Grossmont Hosp., D064653 (Cal. App. 2014):
"A prisoner may not . . . compel a trial court to appoint counsel. [Citations.] The right of an indigent prisoner to appointed counsel in a civil action arises only when there is a bona fide threat to his or her personal or property interests and no other feasible alternative exists." (Wantuch v. Davis (1995) 32 Cal.App.4th 786, 793, italics added.)
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