Johnson v. James

Background

Jinja “Kyng Pariah” Johnson brought this civil action without a lawyer. The opinion states that Johnson was detained at Mid-Hudson Forensic Psychiatric Center. Johnson filed the complaint without paying the filing fees and without submitting a completed application to proceed without prepaying fees or a prisoner authorization.

Fees and required filings

The court explained that a prisoner filing a civil action must either pay $402 in fees—a $350 filing fee and a $52 administrative fee—or request permission to proceed without prepaying fees. A prisoner seeking that permission must submit a signed application and an authorization allowing installment deductions from the prisoner’s account. The authorization must also direct the facility to provide certified copies of the prisoner’s account statements for the previous six months.

Order

The court ordered Johnson, within 30 days of the order, to either pay the $402 in fees or submit the required application and prisoner authorization, labeled with docket number 22-CV-4358 (LTS). No summons would issue at that time. If Johnson complied, the Clerk’s Office would process the case under its procedures. If Johnson failed to comply within the allowed time, the action would be dismissed.

The court also certified under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3) that any appeal from the order would not be taken in good faith and denied permission to proceed without prepaying fees for an appeal. Judge Laura Taylor Swain signed the order.