Williams, Jr. v. City of New York
- Paul Gardephe
- 1:21-cv-01083
- U.S. District Court · Southern District of New York
- 1
In Williams, Jr. v. City of New York, Judge Parker denied requests for experts and denied appointed counsel without prejudice.
Alexander Williams, Jr.'s requests for an economist and a psychiatrist were denied, and his request for court-appointed counsel was denied without prejudice, allowing him to renew it later if necessary.
What happened
In Williams, Jr. v. City of New York, Alexander Williams, Jr. asked the court to provide an economist and a psychiatrist to assist with his case, and also asked for a lawyer appointed by the court.
The court said it did not have the resources or authority to provide the economist or psychiatrist, so it denied those requests. It also explained that people who cannot afford a lawyer generally are not entitled to one appointed by the court in civil cases.
Judge Katharine H. Parker denied the request for appointed counsel without prejudice, meaning Williams, Jr. may renew that request later if necessary. The order did not decide the underlying claims.
The detailed version
- Williams, Jr. v. City of New York · No. 1:21-cv-01083
- Paul Gardephe
- Aug. 24, 2022
Background
The court received Alexander Williams, Jr.'s letter dated August 16, 2022. The letter asked the court to provide an economist and a psychiatrist to assist him in the case, and also sought appointment of counsel, meaning a lawyer provided by the court.
Rulings
The court denied the requests for an economist and a psychiatrist, stating that it lacked the resources or authority to provide them.
The court denied the request for appointed counsel without prejudice. It explained that, unlike in a criminal case, a person who cannot afford a lawyer is not automatically entitled to court-appointed counsel in a civil case. The court stated that Williams, Jr. may renew the request later if necessary.
Effect of the Order
Judge Katharine H. Parker's order addressed assistance and representation, not the merits of Williams, Jr.'s underlying claims. The Clerk of Court was directed to mail a copy of the order to Williams, Jr.
Read the full 1-page opinion on CourtListener, the free public archive maintained by the Free Law Project.