Alcala v. Hernandez
Filing
99
ORDER granting 96 Renewed Motion for the Payment of Transcript Costs Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 753(f). The Court ORDERS that the transcript fees in this action be paid by the United States out of money appropriated for that purpose. Signed by the Honorable R. Bryan Harwell on 11/24/2015. (hcic, )
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF SOUTH CAROLINA
FLORENCE DIVISION
Fernando Contreras Alcalá,
Petitioner,
vs.
Claudia García Hernández,
Respondent.
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Civil Action No. 4:14-cv-04176-RBH
ORDER GRANTING PETITIONER’S
RENEWED MOTION FOR THE
PAYMENT OF TRANSCRIPT COSTS
PURSUANT TO 28 U.S.C. § 753(f)
Following the filing of his Notice of Appeal [ECF No. 94] and the docketing of that
appeal by the Fourth Circuit, see Case No. 15-2471 [ECF No. 2], Petitioner Fernando Contreras
Alcalá has renewed his motion requesting that the Court enter an order certifying certain matters
to enable him to obtain a transcript of the trial in this action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 753(f) [ECF
No. 96]. In his motion, Petitioner notes that his indigence continues to preclude him from being
financially able to pay for both the fees and costs associated with the prosecution of this case
seeking the return of his children to Mexico. Furthermore, Petitioner asks that the Court certify
that his appeal from this Court’s Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Order [ECF No. 81]
and Judgment [ECF No. 82] are not frivolous. Finally, he requests the Court to certify that the
action involves a substantial or reasonably debatable question. See 28 U.S.C. § 753(f).1
Without taking a position on the merits of the action apart from this Court’s prior orders,
the Court concludes that Petitioner’s appeal is not frivolous and that this case does present a
substantial question. Therefore, the Court GRANTS Petitioner’s motion.
ANALYSIS
1
Additionally, Petitioner requested the Court waive additional briefing for this motion in order
to expedite its consideration. Concluding that the parties have already briefed this issue [ECF
Nos. 84, 89, and 91], and there being no objection to relying on briefs already submitted, the
Court concludes that further briefing is not warranted. Likewise, a hearing on this matter is
unnecessary.
The Court Reporters Act, 28 U.S.C. § 753(f) states in relevant part that:
Each reporter may charge and collect fees for transcripts requested
by the parties, including the United States, at rates prescribed by
the court subject to the approval of the Judicial Conference. . . .
Fees for transcripts furnished in other proceedings to persons
permitted to appeal in forma pauperis shall also be paid by the
United States if the trial judge or a circuit judge certifies that the
appeal is not frivolous (but presents a substantial question).
28 U.S.C. § 753(f). Based on this statute, a party must satisfy three elements to obtain a
transcript for the purpose of appeal: (1) indigence; (2) certification that any appeal is not
frivolous; and (3) certification that the litigation presents a substantial question. Id. The Court
summarily finds that the first two prongs of the § 753(f) analysis are met due to the Court’s prior
ruling as to Petitioner’s indigence and the nature of the issues raised during the trial of this case.
Instead, the Court focuses its inquiry on the final prong of the analysis.
In the leading case in the Fourth Circuit on the issue of what constitutes a substantial
question under § 753(f), the court noted that “[w]hat constitutes a substantial question in this
context is not otherwise definitely defined. . . . Shortly stated, the phrase has been judicially
thought to mean a substantial question exists where it is reasonably debatable.”
Ortiz v.
Greyhound Corp., 192 F. Supp. 903, 905 (D. Md. 1959); accord Harlem River Consumers
Cooperative, Inc. v. Associated Grocers of Harlem, Inc., 71 F.R.D. 93, 97 (S.D.N.Y. 1976).2
Petitioner argues that this litigation involves several legal and factual issues on which
reasonable minds can differ, including, in part: the weight to which a Court must give a
respondent’s immigration status and the extent to which the Children have created significant
ties with the community. While the Court does not agree that the extent to which the Children
2
This interpretation has also been adopted by the Fourth Circuit in numerous unpublished
decisions. See Barton v. Johnson, 582 F. App'x 185, 186 (4th Cir. 2014) (per curiam); Jones v.
Young, No. 96-7787, 1998 U.S. App. LEXIS 549 at, *2 (4th Cir. Jan. 14, 1998)
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have created significant ties with the community is reasonably debatable, the Court
acknowledges that the Fourth Circuit has not specifically addressed the weight a court must give
to a respondent’s immigration status. Moreover, the circuit courts of appeals that have addressed
the issue have taken somewhat different approaches. Compare Lozano v. Alvarez, 697 F.3d 41,
45, 57 n.16 (2d Cir. 2012) (considering immigration status and giving weight to that status
regardless of the threat of deportation), aff’d, 572 U.S. --, 134 S. Ct. 1224 (2014), with In re B.
Del C. S. B., 559 F.3d 999, 1010 (9th Cir. 2009) (stating “only in a case in which there is an
immediate, concrete threat of removal can immigration status constitute a significant factor with
respect to the question whether a child is ‘settled’”). In the present case, the Court notes that it
followed the more conservative approach adopted by the Second Circuit in Lozano v. Alvarez,
697 F.3d 41 (2d Cir. 2012), and considered the immigration status of the minor children as one
of many factors in the Court’s analysis of whether the minor children were well-settled in their
new environment.
Considering the absence of a Fourth Circuit opinion addressing the weight given to
immigration status in the context of the well-settled defense, and the different, nuanced
approaches adopted by circuit courts of appeals that have addressed the issue, there is a
substantial or reasonably debatable question presented by this appeal.
CONCLUSION
Petitioner’s counsel has already devoted considerable funds to pay for investigators,
interpreters, and translators—all without passing these costs onto Petitioner. Thus, it would be
inequitable to ask them to do the same for the transcripts, especially where a mechanism to
obtain those transcripts exist. Therefore, the Court finds, concludes, and certifies that:
The Court’s prior order granting Petitioner indigent status [ECF No. 12] will not be
rescinded by the Court for the purpose of any appeal, Fed. R. App. P. 24(a)(3)(A);
3
Petitioner’s decision to appeal the Court’s judgment is not frivolous, see 28 U.S.C. §
753(f); and
The case presents a substantial question subject to reasonable debate. See id; Ortiz v.
Greyhound Corp., 192 F. Supp. at 905; see also Harlem River Consumers Cooperative,
71 F.R.D. at 97.
Additionally, the Court ORDERS that the transcript fees in this action be paid by the
United States out of money appropriated for that purpose.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
November 24, 2015
Florence, South Carolina
s/ R. Bryan Harwell
R. Bryan Harwell
United States District Judge
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