Opinion
8:20CR36
05-30-2024
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff, v. LEONARD HATTEN, JR., Defendant.
ORDER
Michael D. Nelson United States Magistrate Judge
This matter is before the Court on the defendant's pro se motion (Filing No. 242) requesting the Clerk of Court provide him with a copy of the unredacted docket sheet, and “any and all police, FBI, and court documents associated with [his] case” without payment of costs because he is indigent. The defendant requests the documents for “post-conviction appeal reasons.”
A defendant does not have the right to receive copies of documents without payment, even if he is indigent. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915; Lewis v. Precision Optics, Inc., 612 F.2d 1074, 1075 (8th Cir. 1980). Neither statutory authority nor this Court's practice requires the provision of free copies of court records to aid in the preparation of a § 2255 motion. Additionally, the Court is also not in possession of the requested “police” or “FBI” documents/reports. Other than this motion for free copies, the defendant has no motions or other matters pending before the Court. Therefore, the Court is not inclined to order a copy of requested court documents at the government's expense. The defendant may pay for copies of the docket sheet and other court documents at the established rate of 500 per page. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that the defendant's motion (Filing No. 242) requesting free copies is denied.