Court Opinion

ID: 9469236
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 02:35:44.502382+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:41:17.828216
License: Public Domain

CLARK, Circuit Judge,
specially concurring.
I enthusiastically concur in Judge Tuttle’s opinion which admirably and painstakingly analyzes a citizen’s First Amendment protection of his freedom of speech rights as amplified by the Privacy Act. However, once again I take issue with the holding that a pro se litigant who substantially prevails cannot recover attorney fees, as I did in Lovell v. Alderete, 630 F.2d 428, 434 (5th Cir. 1980). I recognize that precedent binds us as a panel and therefore under the law the instant opinion is correct.
Nevertheless, I continue to speak out against an interpretation of the statute that permits reimbursement for money spent for attorney fees but denies it for time spent to accomplish the same result. Time is precious to everyone. Taking time away from gainful employment or enjoyable leisure to enforce one’s rights is a valuable consideration for which reimbursement should be obtainable, and is just as much “a stock in trade” as is an attorney’s time. There is nothing in the Act or Congressional history to suggest that Congress intended to favor a person with money who could afford an attorney over a poorer person who could not, and who could not enlist free legal services.
Therefore, I register my disagreement with this holding, while recognizing that we as a panel are bound by Lovell.