Opinion ID: 1598126
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: On October 29, 1992, a petition for a writ of habeas corpus was filed in the district court for Red Willow County, Nebraska, by Ashlyn Kai Breanne Flora, by and through her next friend and father, Eric Flora. In the petition, Flora stated that he was the natural father of Ashlyn Kai. Flora alleged that Lori Escudero refused to allow him reasonable access to the child for visitation. Flora asked the court to set a date for a hearing, establish reasonable visitation, and set child support. In her answer, Escudero admitted that Flora was the natural father of her daughter. Escudero cross-claimed and requested that the court determine the child's paternity, change the child's surname from Flora to Escudero, and set visitation and child support. The matter went to trial on April 19, 1993. By an order dated April 20, the court decreed that Flora was the natural and lawful father of Ashlyn Kai. Custody of the child was placed in Escudero, subject to reasonable rights of visitation, including overnight visits. Flora was ordered to pay child support in the amount of $50 per month. The court declined to change the surname of the minor child. Flora was ordered to pay the costs of the action, and each party was ordered to pay his or her own attorney fees. On May 10, 1993, Escudero timely filed a notice of appeal to the Nebraska Court of Appeals and submitted to the district court for Red Willow County a motion to proceed in forma pauperis on appeal. In her motion, Escudero stated that because of her poverty, she was unable to prepay the costs of pursuing an appeal, including the cost of having a transcript prepared, the payment of the docket fee, and the expense of copying appellate briefs. Escudero further stated that she was taking the appeal in good faith and that she believed she was entitled to the relief sought. On May 13, 1993, the district court filed a journal entry, dated May 12, denying Escudero leave to proceed in forma pauperis on appeal because, in the opinion of the court, Escudero's appeal was not taken in good faith. On May 28, 1993, Escudero filed a motion with the Nebraska Court of Appeals requesting an order directing the district court for Red Willow County to grant her leave to proceed in forma pauperis. On June 21, by order of the Nebraska Supreme Court, this case was removed from the Court of Appeals docket to the Supreme Court docket. On October 27, 1993, this court granted Escudero's motion to proceed in forma pauperis and directed the District Court for Red Willow County to order Red Willow County to pay the costs for the preparation of the bill of exceptions.