Opinion ID: 1595327
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: because of lack of jurisdiction

Text: The State has filed a motion for summary dismissal because the poverty affidavit in support of Dallmann's motion to proceed in forma pauperis failed to include statements required by § 25-2301.01. Specifically, Dallmann provided a motion and affidavit stating that he was unable to pay the cost of the appeal, but did not provide a statement of the nature of the action or a statement that he believed was entitled to redress. The State contends that because the poverty affidavit serves as a substitute for the docket fee, the failure to strictly comply with all statutory provisions governing poverty affidavits is jurisdictional. This court generally does not acquire jurisdiction of an appeal unless a notice of appeal is filed and the docket fee is paid within 30 days of the final order. See Neb.Rev.Stat. § 25-1912 (Cum.Supp.2000). Under § 25-2301.01, an indigent appellant can avoid paying the docket fee by requesting to proceed in forma pauperis. Section 25-2301.01 states in part: An application to proceed in forma pauperis shall include an affidavit stating that the affiant is unable to pay the fees and costs or give security required to proceed with the case, the nature of the action, defense, or appeal, and the affiant's belief that he or she is entitled to redress. Before August 28, 1999, Neb.Rev.Stat. § 29-2306 (Reissue 1995), which pertains specifically to in forma pauperis criminal appeals, stated only that the affiant must state that he or she is unable by reason of poverty to pay the costs of the appeal. Section 29-2306 did not require that the affiant state the nature of the action, defense, or appeal, and the belief that he or she was entitled to redress. Effective August 28, 1999, however, § 29-2306 was amended and provides: If a defendant in a criminal case files, within thirty days after the entry of the judgment, order, or sentence, an application to proceed in forma pauperis in accordance with sections 25-2301 to 25-2310 with the clerk of the district court, then no payment of the docket fee shall be required of him or her unless the defendant's application to proceed in forma pauperis is denied. The clerk of the district court shall forward a certified copy of such application, including the affidavit, to the Clerk of the Supreme Court. If an application to proceed in forma pauperis is filed and granted, the Court of Appeals or Supreme Court shall acquire jurisdiction of the case when the notice of appeal is filed with the clerk of the district court. In cases in which an application to proceed in forma pauperis is granted, the amount of the costs shall be endorsed on the mandate and shall be paid by the county in which the indictment was found. (Emphasis supplied.) § 29-2306 (Cum. Supp.2000). Thus, under the amended version of § 29-2306, a request to proceed in forma pauperis in a criminal appeal must be filed in accordance with § 25-2301.01. Neb.Rev.Stat. § 25-2301.02 (Cum.Supp. 2000), a new statutory section that was also effective August 28, 1999, provides in part: (1) An application to proceed in forma pauperis shall be granted unless there is an objection that the party filing the application: (a) Has sufficient funds to pay costs, fees, or security or (b) is asserting legal positions which are frivolous or malicious. The objection to the application shall be made within thirty days after the filing of the application. Such objection may be made by the court on its own motion or on the motion of any interested person. The motion objecting to the application shall specifically set forth the grounds of the objection. An evidentiary hearing shall be conducted on the objection unless the objection is by the court on its own motion on the grounds that the applicant is asserting legal positions which are frivolous or malicious. If no hearing is held, the court shall provide a written statement of its reasons, findings, and conclusions for denial of the applicant's application to proceed in forma pauperis which shall become a part of the record of the proceeding. If an objection is sustained, the party filing the application shall have thirty days after the ruling or issuance of the statement to proceed with an action or appeal upon payment of fees, costs, or security notwithstanding the subsequent expiration of any statute of limitations or deadline for appeal. We have never addressed whether all the exact requirements of the former version of § 25-2301.01, see Neb.Rev.Stat. § 25-2301 (Reissue 1995), had to be met in order to vest this court with jurisdiction over an appeal. However, in State v. Schmailzl, 248 Neb. 314, 534 N.W.2d 743 (1995), we held that a poverty affidavit must assert that the defendant is unable by reason of poverty to pay the costs of the appeal in order to vest jurisdiction with an appellate court. We have also dismissed for lack of jurisdiction when the appellant failed to properly sign the poverty affidavit under oath. In re Interest of T.W. et al., 234 Neb. 966, 453 N.W.2d 436 (1990); State v. Hunter, 234 Neb. 567, 451 N.W.2d 922 (1990); In re Interest of K.D.B., 233 Neb. 371, 445 N.W.2d 620 (1989). In In re Interest of Noelle F. & Sarah F., 249 Neb. 628, 544 N.W.2d 509 (1996), we addressed a case in which the district court had denied the appellant's motion to proceed in forma pauperis, stating that if the poverty affidavit is not sufficient to meet the statutory requirements of § 25-2301 or is found to be untrue, the appeal has not been perfected. Thus, in Noelle F. & Sarah F., we held that an in forma pauperis affidavit which is found by the trial court to be not well taken is insufficient to perfect an appeal on the merits. Under the amended statutes, however, we now conclude that the plain language of § 29-2306, as amended, and §§ 25-2301.01 and 25-2301.02 make clear that the absence of language in a poverty affidavit stating the nature of the action and that the affiant is entitled to redress will not divest this court of jurisdiction. Section 29-2306 clearly states that if in forma pauperis status is sought and granted, the Nebraska Court of Appeals or Supreme Court shall acquire jurisdiction of the case when the notice of appeal is filed with the clerk of the district court. Under § 29-2306, when a request to proceed in forma pauperis is granted, the amount of the costs shall be paid by the county in which the indictment was found. With the exception of the 30-day filing requirement, § 29-2306 does not make any exceptions for in forma pauperis status that may have been improperly granted or granted in error. Thus, in a criminal case, once in forma pauperis status has been granted by the district court, the appellate court will be entitled to receive the docket fee. Section 25-2301.02 makes clear that challenges to the ability of a defendant to proceed in forma pauperis are to occur in the district court and that the district court is charged with the responsibility of granting or denying the motion to proceed in forma pauperis. We have previously stated: We have uniformly held that lower courts are divested of subject matter jurisdiction over a particular case when an appeal of that case is perfected.... [W]e [have] held that an in forma pauperis appeal is perfected when the appellant timely filed a notice of appeal and an affidavit of poverty. Although jurisdiction is vested in the appellate court upon timely filing of a notice of appeal and an affidavit of poverty, some duties are still required of the lower court.... For example, the lower court must forward to the appellate court the notice of appeal, requests for the transcript and the bill of exceptions, and the docket fee or poverty affidavit. Sections 25-2301 and 25-2308 require the lower court to act if it determines that the allegations of poverty are untrue or if it determines that the appeal is not taken in good faith. Generally, appellants are entitled to the benefits of an in forma pauperis appeal when the affidavit of poverty and notice of appeal are filed and stand uncontradicted and unobjected to. If there is no hearing on the poverty affidavit and the appeal, or when there is a hearing and the evidence is uncontradicted, the trial court has a duty to allow the appellant to proceed in forma pauperis. Flora v. Escudero, 247 Neb. 260, 264-65, 526 N.W.2d 643, 646-47 (1995). It is not a function of this court to determine whether an affidavit to proceed in forma pauperis contains specific language stating the nature of the case and that the affiant is entitled to redress. These determinations must be made by the district court. Thus, any objection that the poverty affidavit fails to state the nature of the action, defense, or appeal, and the belief that the affiant is entitled to redress, must also be raised in the district court. As indicated in Flora, supra, such objections may be waived. Accordingly, we determine that if a request to proceed in forma pauperis is granted by the district court, this court obtains jurisdiction when the notice of appeal is timely filed, and any failure of the affidavit to state the nature of the action or that the affiant is entitled to redress under § 25-2301.01 will not divest this court of jurisdiction. In Dallmann's case, the record contains an order from the district court sustaining his motion to proceed in forma pauperis. Thus, Dallmann was granted in forma pauperis status, and we have jurisdiction over the appeal.