Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-almd-2_04-cv-01227/USCOURTS-almd-2_04-cv-01227-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

---

IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE

MIDDLE DISTRICT OF ALABAMA, NORTHERN DIVISION

RONNIE FENN, )

)

Plaintiff, )

) CIVIL ACTION NO.

v. ) 2:04cv1227-T

) (WO)

BARBOUR COUNTY JAIL, )

et al., )

)

Defendants. )

ORDER

This cause is now before the court on plaintiff's notice

of appeal (doc. no. 27), which the court is treating as a

motion to proceed on appeal in forma pauperis.

28 U.S.C.A. § 1915(a) provides that "[a]n appeal may not

be taken in forma pauperis if the trial court certifies in

writing that it is not taken in good faith." In making this

determination as to good faith, a court must use an

objective standard, such as whether the appeal is

"frivolous," Coppedge v. United States, 369 U.S. 438, 445,

82 S.Ct. 917, 921 (1962), or "has no substantive merit."

United States v. Bottoson, 644 F.2d 1174, 1176 (5th Cir.

Case 2:04-cv-01227-WKW-DRB Document 29 Filed 04/21/05 Page 1 of 2
Unit B May 15, 1981) (per curiam), cert. denied, 454 U.S.

903, 102 S.Ct. 411 (1981); see also Rudolph v. Allen, 666

F.2d 519, 520 (11th Cir. 1982) (per curiam), cert. denied,

457 U.S. 1122, 102 S.Ct. 2938 (1982); Morris v. Ross, 663

F.2d 1032 (11th Cir. 1981), cert. denied, 456 U.S. 1010, 102

S.Ct. 2303 (1982). Applying this standard, this court is of

the opinion, for the reasons stated in the recommendation of

the magistrate judge, that the plaintiff's appeal is without

a legal or factual basis and, accordingly, is frivolous and

not taken in good faith. See, e.g., Rudolph v. Allen,

supra; Brown v. Pena, 441 F. Supp. 1382 (S.D. Fla. 1977),

aff'd without opinion 589 F.2d 1113 (5th Cir. 1979).

Accordingly, it is ORDERED that the plaintiff's motion

to proceed on appeal in forma pauperis be and it is hereby

denied; and that the appeal in this cause be and it is

hereby certified, pursuant to 28 U.S.C.A. § 1915(a), as not

taken in good faith.

DONE, this the 21st day of April, 2005.

 /s/ Myron H. Thompson 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 2:04-cv-01227-WKW-DRB Document 29 Filed 04/21/05 Page 2 of 2