Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_16-cv-01143/USCOURTS-caed-1_16-cv-01143-1/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
John Ray Dynes
Petitioner
Fresno County Superior Court
Respondent

Document Text:

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

1

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JOHN RAY DYNES,

Petitioner,

v.

FRESNO COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT,

Respondent.

Case No. 1:16-cv-01143-SAB-HC

ORDER GRANTING PETITIONER’S 

APPLICATION TO PROCEED IN FORMA 

PAUPERIS

(ECF No. 2)

Petitioner is a state prisoner proceeding pro se with a petition for writ of habeas corpus

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254.

On August 1, 2016, Petitioner filed the instant petition in the Sacramento Division of the 

United States District Court for the Eastern District of California. (ECF No. 1). Petitioner also 

filed an application to proceed in forma pauperis the same day. (ECF No. 2). On August 4, 2016, 

the Sacramento Division transferred this action to this Court. (ECF No. 4).

The determination of applications to proceed in forma pauperis is governed by 28 U.S.C. 

§ 1915. In order to proceed in court without prepayment of the filing fee, Petitioner must submit 

an affidavit demonstrating that he “is unable to pay such fees or give security therefor.” 28 

U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1). Although there is no set formula to determine whether a certain income 

level meets the poverty threshold under § 1915(a)(1), courts have looked to the federal poverty 

guidelines developed each year by the Department of Health and Human Services. See Lint v. 

Case 1:16-cv-01143-SAB Document 6 Filed 08/08/16 Page 1 of 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

2

City of Boise, Civil Action No. 09-72-S-EJL, 2009 WL 1149442, at *2 (D. Idaho Apr. 28, 2009); 

Johnson v. Leohane, Civil Action No. 08-00432-ACK-KSC, 2008 WL 4527065, at *1 (D. Haw.

Oct. 9, 2008); Johnson v. Spellings, 579 F.Supp.2d 188, 191 (D.D.C. 2008).

The Court has evaluated whether Petitioner meets the standard to proceed in forma 

pauperis according to 28 U.S.C. § 1915. Based upon the information in his application to 

proceed in forma pauperis, the Court finds that Petitioner is indigent and unable to pay the filing 

fee. Accordingly, Petitioner’s application to proceed in forma pauperis is GRANTED. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: August 8, 2016 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:16-cv-01143-SAB Document 6 Filed 08/08/16 Page 2 of 2