UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN 

SOUTHERN DIVISION 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 

 

 Plaintiff, Criminal Action No. 15-CR-20077-09 

vs. HON. BERNARD A. FRIEDMAN 

 

DELONTE B. HARRIS, 

 

 Defendant. 

_____________________________/ 

OPINION AND ORDER GRANTING IN PART AND DENYING IN PART 

DEFENDANT’S MOTION THAT THE COURT CLERK 

PROVIDE HIM WITH DOCUMENTS 

 This matter is presently before the Court on defendant’s “motion to request that 

Clerk of the Court forward copies of Movant’s docket sheet, sentencing transcripts, and plea 

agreement, and judgment and commitment order” [docket entry 273]. Defendant, who appears 

pro se, indicates that “[t]his request is based upon Movant’s own personal needs in developing 

Movant’s files and other personal records.” The judgment in this matter was entered on May 6, 

2016, and other than the instant motion, there are no other motions or proceedings pending 

before the Court. 

 With the exception of a copy of the docket sheet and a copy of the judgment and 

commitment order, which are enclosed with this order, the Court is not inclined to provide 

defendant with the documents he seeks at the public’s expense. As to defendant’s request for 

transcripts, “the Court is not required to provide transcripts to a defendant before he has asserted 

a facially viable claim.” United States v. Dickinson, No. 1:14-cr-035, 2015 WL 5376460, at *3 

(S.D. Ohio Sept. 14, 2015) (citing United States v. MacCollom, 426 U.S. 317, 321 (1976)). 

Moreover, “neither [28 U.S.C. § 1915] nor [28 U.S.C. § 753(f)] authorizes the furnishing of a 
2 

transcript where there is no motion to vacate sentence pending.” Id. (quoting Ketcherside v. 

United States, 317 F.2d 807, 808 (6th Cir. 1963)) (alterations in original). In the present case, 

defendant has not filed a § 2255 motion. As a result, his request for transcripts is denied. 

 Defendant’s request for a copy of the plea agreement is also denied. “[I]t is not 

the court’s or the Clerk of the Court’s responsibility to handle such clerical tasks, essentially 

operating as an electric storage facility and personal delivery service for Defendant.” United 

States v. Darwich, No. 10-20705, 2011 WL 2045570, at *1 (E.D. Mich. May 24, 2011) (citing 

McKaskle v. Wiggins, 465 U.S. 168 (1984)). Defendant is advised that he may contact the 

Clerk’s Office to inquire about the costs associated with his request for copies and to determine 

the proper procedures to be followed for obtaining the documents he seeks. Accordingly, 

 IT IS ORDERED that defendant’s “motion to request that Clerk of the Court 

forward copies of Movant’s docket sheet, sentencing transcripts, and plea agreement, and 

judgment and commitment order” is granted to the extent that defendant seeks a copy of the 

docket sheet and a copy of the judgment and commitment order, which are enclosed with this 

order. The motion is denied in all other respects. 

 s/Bernard A. Friedman 

Dated: October 5, 2018 BERNARD A. FRIEDMAN 

Detroit, Michigan SENIOR UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

The undersigned certifies that a copy of the foregoing order was served upon each attorney or party of 

record herein by electronic means or first-class U.S. mail on October 5, 2018. 

 s/Johnetta M. Curry-Williams 

 Case Manager