Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ca10-14-08089/USCOURTS-ca10-14-08089-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Chase Carmen Hunter
Petitioner

Document Text:

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT

In re:

CHASE CARMEN HUNTER,

Petitioner.

No. 14-8089

(D.C. No. 2:14-CV-00089-NDF)

(D. Wyo.)

ORDER

Before TYMKOVICH, HOLMES, and BACHARACH, Circuit Judges.

Chase Carmen Hunter, a pro se plaintiff in the district court, petitions for a 

writ of mandamus ordering the district court to allow her to use its electronic filing 

system (CM/ECF). She challenges the district court’s policy prohibiting any pro se 

party from using CM/ECF. See D. Wyo. CM/ECF Procedures Manual § II.D.iii.

“[A] writ of mandamus is a drastic remedy, and is to be invoked only in 

extraordinary circumstances.” In re Cooper Tire & Rubber Co., 568 F.3d 1180, 1186 

(10th Cir. 2009) (internal quotation marks omitted). Among other requirements, a 

petitioner must show that her right to the writ is “clear and indisputable.” Id. at 1187 

(internal quotation marks omitted). 

Ms. Hunter does not have a “clear and indisputable” right to use CM/ECF. 

Under Fed. R. Civ. P. 5(d)(3), a court “may, by local rule, allow papers to be filed, 

signed, or verified by electronic means” (emphasis added). The term “may” is 

permissive, not mandatory. And importantly, an inability to file through CM/ECF 

FILED

United States Court of Appeals

Tenth Circuit

December 31, 2014

Elisabeth A. Shumaker

Clerk of Court

Appellate Case: 14-8089 Document: 01019363818 Date Filed: 12/31/2014 Page: 1 
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does not mean a denial of access to the courts. Ms. Hunter still may file through 

traditional means. That those means may be more inconvenient than CM/ECF and 

involve the expense of copying and mailing does not justify mandamus relief.

Ms. Hunter’s motion to proceed in forma pauperis is granted. Her petition for 

a writ of mandamus is denied.

Entered for the Court

ELISABETH A. SHUMAKER, Clerk

Appellate Case: 14-8089 Document: 01019363818 Date Filed: 12/31/2014 Page: 2