Gray v. Bristrow et al

Filing 2

INITIAL ORDER FOR PRO SE PLAINTIFFS. Signed by Judge D. P. Marshall Jr. on 10/24/2017. (jak)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
JONESBORO DIVIVSION
RUBBY JAMES GRAY
v.

PLAINTIFF
No. 3:17-cv-279-DPM

BENJAMIN W. BRISTROW, Public
Defender, Craighead County, CINDY
THYER, Judge, Craighead County
Circuit Court, BROWN, Judge,
Craighead County Circuit Court

DEFENDANTS

INITIAL ORDER FOR PRO SE PLAINTIFFS

You filed this federal civil rights lawsuit without a lawyer’s help.
Even though you’re not a lawyer, there are rules and procedures you
must follow in your lawsuit.
1.

Follow All Court Rules. You must comply with the Federal

Rules of Civil Procedure and the Local Rules for the Eastern District of
Arkansas. These rules are available online at http://www.uscourts.gov
/rules-policies/current-rules-practice-procedure and http://www.
are.uscourts.gov/court-info/local-rules-and-orders/local-rules.
In particular, Local Rule 5.5(c)(2) explains requirements for plaintiffs
who aren’t represented by a lawyer.
• If your address changes, you must promptly notify the Clerk
and the other parties in the case. If you don’t keep the Court

informed about your current address, your lawsuit can be
dismissed without prejudice.
• You must monitor the progress of your case and prosecute
it diligently.
• You must sign all papers filed with the Court; and each
paper you file must include your current address.
• If the Court issues an Order directing you to do something
by a certain date, and you don’t, then your case may be
dismissed without prejudice.
2. No Right to Appointed Counsel. This is a civil case. Unlike
in a criminal case, you have no right to an appointed lawyer. If your
case goes to a jury trial, though, the Court will appoint a lawyer to help
you before trial.
3. Do Not File Your Discovery Requests. Discovery requests—
like interrogatories and requests for documents—should not be filed
with the Court. Instead, discovery requests should be sent to the
Defendant’s lawyer (or directly to the Defendant if he or she isn’t
represented by a lawyer). Don’t send any discovery requests to a
Defendant until after that Defendant has been served with the
complaint.
4. Only Send Documents to the Court in Three Situations. You
may send documents or other evidence to the Court only if (a) they are
attached to a motion for summary judgment, (b) they are attached to
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your response to a motion for summary judgment, or (c) the Court
orders you to send documents or other evidence.
5. Provide a Witness List Before Trial. If your case goes to trial,
you’ll be asked for a witness list as your trial date approaches. After
reviewing the witness list, the Court will subpoena necessary witnesses
for you.
So Ordered.
__________________________
D.P. Marshall Jr.
United States District Judge
24 October 2017

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