In those civil cases in which the Court deems it necessary to appoint counsel to represent a party
proceeding in forma pauperis (see 28 U.S.C. §1915), such appointment shall be accomplished by random
selection from a list of all actively practicing private attorneys enrolled in the District in which the case
is pending. Prospective appointees will be informed by telephone of their selection, when possible,
so as to avoid appointment of an attorney who is not actively engaged in the private practice of law.
However, in the event an enrolled attorney not actively engaged in the private practice of law is appointed,
such attorney may request leave to withdraw within twenty-one
(21) days of such appointment. The Court will depart from this random appointment procedure when
the extraordinary nature or exigency of the circumstances suggests that an alternate means of selection is
necessary. These appointments shall be mandatory.
The original attorney appointed may arrange for substitute counsel to appear in behalf of the party,
but such substitution must be made in writing and filed with the Court not later than twenty- one (21) days
after the entry of the original appointment order. This substitution will not relieve the substituted counsel
from serving as appointed counsel in any subsequent case when he/she would otherwise be selected at
random.
Upon written application filed within twenty-one (21) days of the original appointment order, an
attorney may request leave of the Court to withdraw if he/she represents (1) that he/she has actively
participated in furnishing pro bono legal services (e.g., membership in a pro bono legal organization);
and (2) that he/she has, in the last twelve (12) months, actually represented a pro bono client(s) in either (a)
litigation, or (b) a non-litigation matter which the attorney can certify required the expenditure of a
minimum of twenty (20) hours of time.
If, after interviewing the client, investigating the facts, and researching the applicable law, an
appointed attorney is convinced that the party's legal position is non-meritorious, the appointed attorney
may petition the Court for leave to withdraw. Such petition to withdraw must be filed within sixty (60)
days of the appointment order. If the attorney is allowed to withdraw, his/her name may be restored to the
list of enrolled attorneys subject to future appointment.
For good cause shown (e.g., geographic, time, or expertise factors), an appointed attorney may
request the Court to select an additional attorney to serve as co-counsel in an investigative or trial capacity.
In the event attorneys enrolled in the Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas desire to volunteer
their services prior to receiving notification of an actual appointment, they may do so by writing the Clerk's
Office, 600 W. Capitol Avenue, Room A-149, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72201- 3325, or the Clerk's Office,
P. O. Box 1547, Fort Smith, Arkansas, 72902-1547, and notifying the Court of their willingness to have
their names advanced on the list of attorneys to be appointed. Attorneys volunteering in this manner will
be exempt from future appointments under this Local Rule for two years from the date of any actual
appointment received.
Adopted and effective May 5, 1987
Amended November 10, 2009
