Case Name: UNITED STATES of America v. Srikanth RAGHUNATHAN; Padmashri Sampathkumar, Appellants
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2008-08-01
Citations: 288 F. App'x 2
Docket Number: No. 07-4800
Parties: UNITED STATES of America v. Srikanth RAGHUNATHAN; Padmashri Sampathkumar, Appellants.
Judges: 
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 288
Pages: 2–4

Head Matter:
UNITED STATES of America v. Srikanth RAGHUNATHAN; Padmashri Sampathkumar, Appellants.
No. 07-4800.
United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit.
Submitted for Possible Summary Action Pursuant to Third Circuit LAR 27.4 and I.O.P. 10.6 June 26, 2008.
Opinion filed: Aug. 1, 2008.
Before: McKEE, RENDELL and SMITH, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
OPINION
PER CURIAM.
Srikanth Raghunathan and Padmashri Sampathkumar, husband and wife, respectively, appeal from an order of the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, which denied them motions for plea hearing transcripts and sentencing transcripts. As no substantial question is presented by the appeal, we will summarily affirm the order of the District Court. Third Circuit I.O.P. 10.6.
Raghunathan and Sampathkumar each pleaded guilty to Fraudulent Representation in Connection with a Loan Application from a Federally Insured Financial Institution, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1014. Judgments were entered against the two on May 14, 2007. An Amended Judgment was entered against Sampathkumar on May 18, 2007, and a Second Amended Judgment was entered against her on June 26, 2007. An Amended Judgment was also entered against Raghunathan on June 26, 2007.
Near the end of November 2007, each filed motions for sentencing transcripts and for plea hearing transcripts. The motions asked that the transcripts be prepared pursuant to the Criminal Justice Act, 18 U.S.C. § 3006A, and indicated that the movant did not have necessary funds to purchase the transcripts. Each motion stated that the transcripts would be necessary for the "evaluation of potential appeals issue affecting constitutional rights of the petitioner."
The Government responded to Sampath-kumar's motions, arguing that § 3006A does not require the Court or the Government to pay for transcripts when no proceedings are pending in the district court or the court of appeals. The Government also noted that Sampathkumar had waived her right to appeal and to collaterally attack her conviction, except in limited cir cumstances, which did not apply, and that Sampathkumar had not filed a timely appeal or a motion pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255. The District Court then denied Raghunathan's and Sampathkumar's motions, noting that they had "filed neither an appeal nor a petition pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255."
The Criminal Justice Act, 18 U.S.C. § 3006A, provides in part that "[a] person for whom counsel is appointed shall be represented at every stage of the proceedings from his initial appearance . through appeal, including ancillary matters appropriate to the proceedings." 18 U.S.C. § 3006A(c). Counsel may also be appointed for a person "seeking relief under section 2241, 2254, or 2255 of title 28" . if the court "determines that the interests of justice so require." 18 U.S.C. § 3006A(a)(2)(B). Counsel who has been appointed "for a person who is financially unable to obtain investigative, expert, or other services necessary for adequate representation may request them in an ex parte application." 18 U.S.C. § 3006A(e)(l). Necessary transcripts are included within the "services" authorized. United States v. Brown, 443 F.2d 659, 660 (D.C.Cir.1970). Further, 28 U.S.C. § 753(f) provides that the United States will pay a court reporter for transcripts authorized by the Criminal Justice Act, and shall also pay for transcripts in proceedings pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255 brought by persons proceeding in forma pauperis, "if the trial judge or a circuit judge certifies that the suit or appeal is not frivolous and that the transcript is needed to decide the issue presented by the suit or appeal." 28 U.S.C. § 753(f).
Neither of these statutes authorize the United States to pay for a transcript where no proceeding is pending. See Walker v. United States, 424 F.2d 278, 279 (5th Cir.1970) (federal prisoner not entitled to obtain copies of court records at Government expense for purpose of searching the record for possible error); Harless v. United States, 329 F.2d 397, 398-99 (5th Cir.1964) (statutory right to proceed in forma pauperis does not include right to obtain copies of transcripts, without payment therefor, for use in proposed or prospective litigation). We therefore will affirm the District Court's order.
. The docket does not reflect any Government response to Raghunathan's motions, but the motions were nearly identical.
. Appellants' motions for appointment of counsel are denied as moot.