Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-almd-1_05-cv-00343/USCOURTS-almd-1_05-cv-00343-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 530
Nature of Suit: Prisoner Petitions - Habeas Corpus
Cause of Action: 28:2254 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (State)

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IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE UNITED STATES

FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF ALABAMA

SOUTHERN DIVISION

 

DANNY LEE SMITH, #111978, )

)

Petitioner, )

v. ) CASE NO. 1:05-cv-343-F

) (WO)

GWENDOLYN MOSLEY, et al., )

)

Respondents. )

O R D E R

This cause is now before the court on a Notice of Appeal which the court construes

to contain a motion to proceed in forma pauperis filed on June 9, 2005.

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. 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 (11t Cir. 1982) (per curiam), cert. denied, 457

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

that the petitioner's appeal is without a legal or factual basis and, accordingly, is frivolous

and not taken in good faith. See, e.g., Rudolph v. Allan, supra; Brown v. Pena, 441 F.Supp.

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1382 (S.D. Fla. 1977), aff'd without opinion, 589 F.2d 1113 (5th Cir. 1979).

Accordingly, it is ORDERED that the petitioner's motion to proceed on appeal in

forma pauperis is DENIED; and that the appeal in this cause is certified, pursuant to 28

U.S.C.A. § 1915(a), as not taken in good faith.

DONE this 28th day of June, 2005.

 /s/ Mark E. Fuller 

CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 1:05-cv-00343-MEF-CSC Document 16 Filed 06/28/05 Page 2 of 2