Opinion ID: 1736578
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: whether the trial court erred in dismissing dock's post-conviction motions as frivolous and sanctioning dock with the loss of 60 days of earned time.

Text: ¶ 10. In denying Dock's motion for post-conviction relief, the circuit court deemed the motion frivolous and directed that Dock forfeit sixty days of earned time for the filing of a frivolous motion pursuant to Miss.Code Ann. § 47-5-138 (Supp.2001). Dock now argues that the circuit court erred in deeming his motion frivolous, reasoning that a simple finding that a motion is without merit is not sufficient to find that the motion is frivolous within the meaning of § 47-5-138. The statute states in relevant part: (3)(a) For the purposes of this subsection, final order means an order of a state or federal court that dismisses a lawsuit brought by an inmate while the inmate was in the custody of the Department of Corrections as frivolous, malicious or for failure to state a claim upon which relief could be granted. (b) On receipt of a final order, the department shall forfeit: (i) Sixty (60) days of an inmate's accrued earned time if the department has received one (1) final order as defined herein; (ii) One hundred twenty (120) days of an inmate's accrued earned time if the department has received two (2) final orders as defined herein; (iii) One hundred eighty (180) days of an inmate's accrued earned time if the department has received three (3) or more final orders as defined herein. Miss.Code Ann. § 47-5-138 (Supp.2001). ¶ 11. A trial court's conclusion that a motion is frivolous is reviewed for abuse of discretion. Harper v. Showers, 174 F.3d 716, 718 (5th Cir.1999)(A district court may dismiss as frivolous the complaint of a prisoner proceeding in forma paurperis if it lacks an arguable basis in law or fact.... We review the dismissal of a frivolous complaint for abuse of discretion). In determining whether a case brought in forma pauperis should be dismissed as frivolous, we have formulated a three-part test: (1) does the complaint have a realistic chance of success; (2) does it present an arguably sound basis in fact and law; and (3) can the complainant prove any set of facts that would warrant relief. Evans v. State, 725 So.2d 613, 677 (Miss.1997). Sections 47-5-138(3)(a) and (b) are fully applicable against pro se litigants who seek post-conviction relief. Retherford v. State, 749 So.2d 269, 275 (Miss.Ct.App.1999)(affirming sanctions against pro se petition for post-conviction relief). ¶ 12. Dock's sole basis for reversal lies in his theory that reading paragraph 5, signing a statement admitting that he read paragraph 5, and answering questions about communications with his attorney regarding paragraph 5 are all somehow not good enough absent the trial court actually rereading paragraph 5 to him. We conclude that Dock's petition has no realistic chance of success, has no arguable basis in fact or law, and does not warrant relief. The trial court did not abuse its discretion in finding Dock's petition to be frivolous.