Novotny v. Yankton FPC, Warden

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF SOUTH DAKOTA SOUTHERN DIVISION JASON FLOYD NOVOTNY, 4:21-CV-04074-RAL Petitioner, vs. ORDER GRANTING PLANTIFF’S MOTION TO APPEAL WITHOUT YANKTON FPC, WARDEN, PREPAYMENT OF FEES Respondent.

Petitioner, Jason Floyd Novotny, filed a pro se petition for writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241. Doc. 1. Judgment was entered against Novotny, and he filed a notice of appeal. Docs. 17 and 22. Novotny now moves to appeal without prepayment of fees and has filed his prisoner trust account report. Docs. 20 and 21.

The Eighth Circuit historically has looked to district courts to rule on in forma pauperis motions for appeal and has held that the filing-fee provisions of the PLRA do not apply to habeas corpus actions. Malave v. Hedrick, 271 F.3d 1139, 1140 (8th Cir. 2001). To determine whether a habeas petitioner qualifies for in forma pauperis status, the court need only assess (1) whether the petitioner can afford to pay the full filing fee, and (2) whether the petitioner's appeal is taken in "good faith." 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1), (3).

Novotny’s prisoner trust account report indicates that he has average monthly deposits of $345.09 and an average monthly balance of $475.66. Doc. 21. Based on this information, the Court finds that Novotny has insufficient funds to pay the $505.00 appellate filing fee, and his motion to appeal without prepayment of fees, Doc. 20, is granted.

Accordingly, it is: .

ORDERED that Novotny’s motion to appeal without prepayment of fees, Doc. 20, is granted.

DATED August 4", 2021.

BY THE COURT: Cause ROBERTO A. LANGE CHIEF JUDGE