Opinion
CASE NUMBER 10 C 5674 App. No. 11-2704
08-10-2011
Ralph Dixon (#R-68485) v. Pamela J. McGuire, et al.
Name of Assigned Judge or Magistrate Judge
Silting Judge if Other than Assigned Judge
DOCKET ENTRY TEXT:
The plaintiff's motion for leave to appeal in forma pauperis [#67] is denied. The court certifies that the appeal is not taken in good faith and orders the plaintiff to pay the appellate fees of $455 within fourteen days or the Court of Appeals may dismiss his appeal for want of prosecution. The clerk is directed to send a copy of this order to the PLRA Attorney, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
[] [For further details see text below.]
Docketing to mail notices.
STATEMENT
The plaintiff, an Illinois state prisoner, has brought this pro se civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The plaintiff claims that the defendants, the Clerk of the Will County Circuit Court and an Illinois Appellate Defender, violated the plaintiff's constitutional rights by denying him due process and by interfering with his access to the courts. More specifically, the plaintiff alleges that the Court Clerk deliberately falsified the court's docket, destroyed important evidence in the plaintiff's criminal case, and refused to process his appeal properly. The plaintiff further alleges that his appellate defender conspired with the court clerk and condoned her actions.
By Memorandum Opinion and Order of June 22, 2011, the court granted the defendants' motions to dismiss the complaint for failure to state a claim. The court also denied the plaintiff's motion to vacate judgment. See Minute Order of August 2, 2011. The plaintiff has filed a notice of appeal from the final judgment and seeks leave to proceed in forma pauperis.
For the reasons stated in its prior orders, the court finds that this action does not raise a substantial issue meriting appellate review. The court remains satisfied that the plaintiff has no actionable claim against either his appellate defender or the circuit clerk. As the plaintiff has raised no grounds for appeal in his motion for leave to appeal in forma pauperis, the court certifies, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3), that the appeal is not in good faith and that no appeal should be taken. When a suit is found to be non-meritorious, an ensuing appeal generally cannot be "in good faith" under § 1915(a)(3). Moran v. Sondalle, 218 F.3d 647, 650 (7th Cir. 2000).
Under the rules of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit Court, if the district court certifies that an appeal is not taken in good faith, the appellant cannot prosecute the appeal in forma pauperis but rather must pay the appellate fees in full for the appeal to go forward. Consequently, the plaintiff must pay the full $455 within fourteen days or the Court of Appeals may dismiss his appeal for want of prosecution. See Evans v. Illinois Dept. of Corrections, 150 F.3d 810, 812 (7th Cir. 1998). If the plaintiff wishes to contest this court's finding that the appeal is not taken in good faith, he must file a motion with the Court of Appeals seeking review of this court's certification within thirty days of service of this order. See Fed. R. App. P. 24(a)(5).
In sum, the plaintiff's motion for leave to appeal in forma pauperis is denied. The plaintiff is ordered to remit to the Clerk of the Court the $455 appellate fee within fourteen days of the date of this order. If the plaintiff fails to comply with this order, the Court of Appeals may dismiss his appeal. The plaintiff is responsible for ensuring payment of the filing fees as directed by this order, and should ensure that the institution having custody of him transmits the necessary funds. Nonpayment for any reason other than destitution shall be construed as a voluntary relinquishment of the right to file future suits in forma pauperis. The obligation to ensure full payment of the filing fees imposed by this order shall not be relieved by release or transfer to another prison. The plaintiff is under a continuing obligation to inform the Clerk of this Court in writing of any change of address within seven days.
Payment shall be sent to the Clerk, United States District Court, 219 S. Dearborn St., Chicago, Illinois 60604, attn: Cashier's Desk, 20th Floor. Payment should clearly identify the plaintiff's name, as well as the district court and appellate court case numbers assigned to this action.
The clerk is directed to send a copy of this order to the PLRA Attorney, United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.