Thomas v. Cook County Corrections

Filing 17

WRITTEN Opinion: The plaintiffs motion for leave to appeal in forma pauperis 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 o f 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 detail see Written Opinion. Signed by the Honorable Elaine E. Bucklo on 9/7/2010:Mailed notice (psm, )

Order Form (01/2005)

United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois
Name of Assigned Judge or Magistrate Judge

ELAINE E. BUCKLO 10 C 4484 (App. No. 10-2961)

Sitting Judge if Other than Assigned Judge

CASE NUMBER CASE TITLE

DATE

9/7/10

Marlon Thomas (#2010-0619176) vs. Cook County Corrections

DOCKET ENTRY TEXT:

The plaintiff's motion for leave to appeal in forma pauperis 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.

O [For further details see text below.]

Docketing to mail notices.

STATEMENT The plaintiff, a detainee at the Cook County Jail, has brought this pro se civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The plaintiff appears to claim both that surgery on his hand was botched and that he is being wrongfully held in jail custody. By Minute Order of August 6, 2010, the court summarily dismissed this case pursuant to the Executive Committee's barring order. See In re: Marlon Thomas, Case No. 08 C 3499 (N.D. Ill.). The plaintiff has filed a notice of appeal from the final judgment and seeks leave to proceed in forma pauperis. However, for the reasons stated in its dismissal order, the court finds that this action does not raise a substantial issue meriting appellate review. The plaintiff initiated this case without first seeking leave to file from the Court's Executive Committee. The Clerk of Court should not have accepted the plaintiff's submissions and opened this case without authorization from the Executive Committee. 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. (CONTINUED)
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STATEMENT (continued) 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.

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