Order Form (01/2005)

United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois

Name of Assigned Judge

or Magistrate Judge

JOAN H. LEFKOW Sitting Judge if Other

than Assigned Judge

CASE NUMBER 12 C 1234 DATE April 16, 2012

CASE

TITLE

Albert Millsapp (#2009-0030615) vs. Superintendent Moreci, et al.

DOCKET ENTRY TEXT:

The Minute Order of April 13, 2012, is vacated. The plaintiff’s motion for leave to appeal in forma pauperis

[#15] is denied. The court certifies that the appeal is not taken in good faith and orders the plaintiff to pay the

appellate fees of $455 within fourteen days or the Court of Appeals may dismiss his appeal for want of

prosecution. The clerk is directed to send a copy of this order to the PLRA Attorney, U.S. Court of Appeals for

the Seventh Circuit.

O [For further details see text below.] Docketing to mail notices.

STATEMENT

The plaintiff, an inmate in the custody of the Cook County Department of Corrections, has brought this

pro se civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The plaintiff seems to claim that the defendants, jail

officials, have violated the plaintiff’s constitutional rights by denying him access to the courts. More specifically,

the plaintiff alleges that correctional officials have ignored state court orders dictating that he be given

unrestricted use of an outside telephone line in order to prepare his criminal defense. 

By Minute Order of February 29, 2012, the court granted the plaintiff’s motion for leave to proceed on

appeal in forma pauperis but summarily dismissed the complaint on preliminary review pursuant to 28 U.S.C.

§ 1915A. The plaintiff has filed a notice of appeal from the final judgment and seeks leave to proceed in forma

pauperis. 

For the reasons stated in its dismissal order, the court finds that this action does not raise a substantial

issue meriting appellate review. When a suit is found to be frivolous, an ensuing appeal generally cannot be “in

good faith” under § 1915(a)(3). Moran v. Sondalle, 218 F.3d 647, 650 (7th Cir. 2000). The court accordingly

certifies, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3), that the appeal is not in good faith and that no appeal should be

taken. 

(CONTINUED)

mjm

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STATEMENT (continued)

Under the rules of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, if the district court certifies that an

appeal is not taken in good faith, the appellant cannot prosecute the appeal in forma pauperis but rather must pay

the appellate fees in full for the appeal to go forward. Consequently, the plaintiff must pay the full $455 within

fourteen days or the Court of Appeals may dismiss his appeal for want of prosecution. See Evans v. Illinois Dept.

of Corrections, 150 F.3d 810, 812 (7th Cir. 1998). If the plaintiff wishes to contest this court’s finding that the

appeal is not taken in good faith, he must file a motion with the Court of Appeals seeking review of this court’s

certification within thirty days of service of this order. See Fed. R. App. P. 24(a)(5).

In sum, the plaintiff’s motion for leave to appeal in forma pauperis is denied. The plaintiff is ordered to

remit to the Clerk of the Court the $455 appellate fee within fourteen days of the date of this order. If the plaintiff

fails to comply with this order, the Court of Appeals may dismiss his appeal. The plaintiff is responsible for

ensuring payment of the filing fees as directed by this order, and should ensure that the institution having custody

of him transmits the necessary funds. Nonpayment for any reason other than destitution shall be construed as a

voluntary relinquishment of the right to file future suits in forma pauperis. The obligation to ensure full payment

of the filing fees imposed by this order shall not be relieved by release or transfer to another prison. The plaintiff

is under a continuing obligation to inform the Clerk of this Court in writing of any change of address within seven

days.

Payment shall be sent to the Clerk, United States District Court, 219 S. Dearborn St., Chicago, Illinois

60604, attn: Cashier’s Desk, 20th Floor. Payment should clearly identify the plaintiff’s name, as well as the district

court and appellate court case numbers assigned to this action.

The clerk is directed to send a copy of this order to the PLRA Attorney, United States Court of Appeals for

the Seventh Circuit.

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