Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_13-cv-01229/USCOURTS-caed-1_13-cv-01229-27/pdf.json

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

---

1

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

Plaintiff Larry William Cortinas is appearing pro se and in forma pauperis in this civil rights 

action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. 

On May 13, 2015, this Court conducted an evidentiary hearing to address the issue of 

Plaintiff’s exhaustion of the administrative remedies. Subsequent to the hearing, the Court ordered 

simultaneous briefing by the parties due May 29, 2015. 

On May 14, 2015, Defendants requested a copy of the transcript of the evidentiary hearing. 

(ECF No. 94.) 

On May 22, 2015, Plaintiff filed a request for the evidentiary hearing transcripts per the request 

by defense counsel. (ECF No. 97.) 

A litigant who has been granted in forma pauperis status may move to have transcripts 

produced at government expense. Two statutes must be considered whenever the district court 

receives a request to prepare transcripts at the government’s expense. First, 28 U.S.C. § 1915(c) 

LARRY WILLIAM CORTINAS,

 Plaintiff,

v.

M. PORTILLO, et al.,

Defendants.

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

Case No.: 1:13-cv-01229-AWI-SAB (PC)

ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S REQUEST 

FOR A COPY OF THE TRANSCRIPT OF THE 

EVIDENTIARY HEARING AT STATE 

GOVERNMENT EXPENSE

[ECF No. 97]

Case 1:13-cv-01229-AWI-SAB Document 98 Filed 05/29/15 Page 1 of 3
2

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

defines the limited circumstances under which the Court can direct the government to pay for 

transcripts for a litigant proceeding in forma pauperis.

(c) Upon the filing of an affidavit in accordance with subsections (a) and (b) and the 

prepayment of any partial filing fee as may be required under subsection (b), the court 

may direct payment by the United States of the expenses of (1) printing the record on 

appeal in any civil or criminal case, if such printing is required by the appellate court; 

(2) preparing a transcript of proceedings before a United States magistrate judge in any 

civil or criminal case, if such transcript is required by the district court, in the case of 

proceedings conducted under section 636(b) of this title or under section 3401(b) of

title 18, United States Code; and (3) printing the record on appeal if such printing is 

required by the appellate court, in the case of proceedings conducted pursuant to 

section 636(c) of this title. Such expenses shall be paid when authorized by the 

Director of Administrative Office of the United States Courts. 

28 U.S.C. § 1915(c).

Second, 28 U.S.C. § 753(f) allows the Court to order the government to pay for transcripts only 

if “the trial judge or a circuit judge certifies that the suit or appeal is not frivolous and that the 

transcript is needed to decide the issue presented by the suit or appeal.” A request for a transcript at 

government expense should not be granted unless “the appeal presents a substantial issue.” Henderson 

v. United States, 734 F.2d 483, 484 (9th Cir. 1984). 

In this instance, based on the substantial amount of argument and evidence presented at the 

evidentiary hearing relating to Defendants’ defense of Plaintiff’s failure to exhaust the administrative 

remedies, the Court ordered subsequent briefing by both parties. Defense counsel has requested and 

received a copy of the transcript of the evidentiary hearing, and under these circumstances, the Court 

finds a substantial issue involved that warrants production of the evidentiary transcripts at government 

expense to assist Plaintiff in drafting his brief. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(c)(2). Accordingly, the Court will 

direct the court reporter to provide Plaintiff a copy of the transcript of the May 13, 2015, evidentiary 

hearing at government expense. In light of this ruling, the Court will extend the deadline to submit

simultaneous briefs to June 15, 2015.

Based on the foregoing, it is HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Plaintiff’s request for a copy of the evidentiary hearing transcript at the expense of the 

United States government is GRANTED; 

Case 1:13-cv-01229-AWI-SAB Document 98 Filed 05/29/15 Page 2 of 3
3

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

2. The court reporter is directed to provide Plaintiff a copy of the transcript of the May 13, 

2015, evidentiary hearing at the expense of the United States government; and

3. The deadline to file a brief is extended to June 15, 2015. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: May 28, 2015 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

 

Case 1:13-cv-01229-AWI-SAB Document 98 Filed 05/29/15 Page 3 of 3