4:10-cr-40062 | S.D. Ill. | Mar 2, 2012
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff, v. Case No. 10-cr-40062-JPG HARRY WILLIAM MCMILLAN, Defendant. MEMORANDUM AND ORDER This matter comes before the Court on defendant Harry William McMillan’s motion for leave to proceed on appeal in forma pauperis (Doc. 87). A federal court may permit a party to proceed on appeal without full pre-payment of fees provided the party is indigent and the appeal is taken in good faith. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1) & (3); Fed. R. App. P. 24(a)(3)(A). A frivolous appeal cannot be made in good faith. Lee v. Clinton , 209 F.3d 1025" date_filed="2000-04-10" court="7th Cir." case_name="Minghao Lee v. William J. Clinton">209 F.3d 1025, 1026-27 (7th Cir. 2000). The test for determining if an appeal is in good faith or not frivolous is whether any of the legal points are reasonably arguable on their merits. Neitzke v. Williams , 490 U.S. 319" date_filed="1989-05-01" court="SCOTUS" case_name="Neitzke v. Williams">490 U.S. 319, 325 (1989) (citing Anders v. California , 386 U.S. 738" date_filed="1967-05-08" court="SCOTUS" case_name="Anders v. California">386 U.S. 738 (1967)); Walker v. O’Brien , 216 F.3d 626" date_filed="2000-06-22" court="7th Cir." case_name="Jimmy Walker v. J.T. O'brien, and Joseph W. Finfrock v. Craig A. Hanks">216 F.3d 626, 632 (7th Cir. 2000).
The Court is satisfied from McMillan’s affidavit that he is indigent. It further finds that his appeal is not frivolous or taken in bad faith. Accordingly, it GRANTS the motion for leave to proceed on appeal in forma pauperis (Doc. 87) and DIRECTS the Clerk of Court to send a copy of this order to the Court of Appeals in connection with Appeal No. 12-1348. IT IS SO ORDERED. DATED: March 2, 2012
s/ J. Phil Gilbert J. PHIL GILBERT DISTRICT JUDGE