Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_15-mc-80070/USCOURTS-cand-3_15-mc-80070-1/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
James Karim Muhammad
Petitioner

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

In re JAMES KARIM MUHAMMAD,

Petitioner.

Case No. 15-mc-80070-JST 

ORDER DENYING APPLICATION TO 

PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS

Re: ECF No. 9

On March 6, 2015, Petitioner filed a document entitled “Ex Parte Motion for Emergency 

Protective Order and Injunctive Relief Restraining Creditor, North Richmond Senior Housing Inc. 

from Enforcing Judgments of the State of California in Violation of Chapter 7 [Disc]harge.” ECF 

No. 1. Petitioner sought, by that application, to prevent his eviction as ordered by a state court in 

an unlawful detainer proceeding brought by North Richmond Senior Housing. Id. 

The Court construed Petitioner’s filing as an appeal from the Bankruptcy Court for the 

Northern District of California, since that was the sole potential basis for this Court to exercise 

jurisdiction over what is otherwise a state-court unlawful detainer proceeding. ECF No. 3. In his 

motion for a protective order before the bankruptcy court, and in his application to this Court, 

Petitioner alleged that the unlawful detainer action had proceeded in violation of the bankruptcy 

court’s earlier order discharging Petitioner’s debt. ECF No. 1. At the time that Petitioner filed his 

application, the bankruptcy court had warned Petitioner that it was likely to deny his motion for a 

protective order. Id.

Upon review, this Court found that it lacked jurisdiction to hear Petitioner’s appeal. ECF 

No. 3. At the time Petitioner filed his request for an emergency protective order, the bankruptcy 

court had not yet entered a final order or judgment denying his motion for a protective order. Id. 

Accordingly, there was no final order or judgment that could be appealed to this Court. Id.

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

Petitioner then appealed this Court’s denial of his ex parte application to the Ninth Circuit 

Court of Appeals by filing an “ex parte motion for emergency protective order and relief 

restraining creditor, North Richmond Senior Housing Inc., from enforcing judgment of state court 

in violation of Chapter 7 discharge.” ECF Nos. 4, 8. On March 10, 2015, the Ninth Circuit denied 

Petitioner’s motion before that court.

The Ninth Circuit then asked this Court to determine whether, given its denial of 

Petitioner’s motion for an emergency protective order, his in forma pauperis status should 

continue on appeal. ECF No. 9. “An appeal may not be taken in forma pauperis if the trial court 

certifies in writing that it is not taken in good faith.” 28 U.S.C.A. § 1915(a)(3). 

The Ninth Circuit has already reviewed and rejected the substance of Petitioner’s motion 

for an emergency protective order. The only extant issue for the Ninth Circuit to resolve on appeal 

is the propriety of this Court’s denial of Petitioner’s ex parte application for lack of jurisdiction. 

The Court finds no arguable basis to believe this Court had jurisdiction to entertain an appeal of a 

bankruptcy court order that had not been entered. Therefore, it is the judgment of this Court that 

what remains of Plaintiff’s appeal is frivolous, as it “has ‘no arguable basis in fact or law.’” 

O’Loughlin v. Doe, 920 F.2d 614, 617 (9th Cir. 1990) (quoting Franklin v. Murphy, 745 F.2d 

1221, 1228 (9th Cir. 1984)). Appeal of the dismissal is therefore not “taken in good faith” within 

the meaning of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3). See Coppedge v. United States, 369 U.S. 438, 444-45 

(1962).

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: March 24, 2015

______________________________________

JON S. TIGAR

United States District Judge

Case 3:15-mc-80070-JST Document 10 Filed 03/24/15 Page 2 of 2