In re Standing of Instructions Regarding Pro Se Prisoner Civil Rights Cases

          STANDING ORDER

          Frank D. Whitney, Chief U.S. District Judge.

         Plaintiffs who are pro se prisoners filing a civil rights suit are advised of several essential requirements of proceeding in this Court. It is hereby

         ORDERED AND AJUDGED as follows:

1. It is Plaintiff's responsibility to become familiar with the applicable rules and procedures, including the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and this Court's Local Rules, which are available on its website, http://www.ncwd.uscourts.gov/.

2. A prisoner who brings a civil action is required to pay the full filing fee, even if he/she has been permitted to proceed in forma pauperis without having to prepay the fee. In forma pauperis status does not mean that the fee is forgiven. In the event that the prisoner is unable to pay the full filing fee at the time the action is filed, the Court is required to assess an initial partial filing fee and, after that is made, the prison at which the prisoner is incarcerated is required to forward to the Clerk's office monthly payments of 20% of the preceding month's income credited to his account until the full filing fee is paid. These payments will be automatically withdrawn from the prisoner's trust account and will be forwarded to the Clerk of Court. The filing fee is due the moment that a complaint or notice of appeal is filed; the full filing fee will be assessed regardless of how the matter is disposed of including by voluntary dismissal. In addition, a prisoner litigant may be barred from proceeding in forma pauperis under the “three strikes”^[1] rule and/or as a sanction for abusive or vexatious filings.

3. It's Plaintiff's responsibility to keep the Court advised of his/her current address at all times. A change of address must be labeled “Notice of Change of Address” and must not include any motions or information except for the new address and the effective date of the change. The Court does not know if the Plaintiff is transferred, released, or placed on probation, etc., unless a Notice of Change of Address is filed. If the Plaintiff's address changes and no Notice is promptly filed with the Clerk of Court, this case may be dismissed for lack of prosecution.

4. All documents filed in the case must include the case number at the top of the first page. Plaintiff must send the original document to the Clerk of Court, and a copy to each of the parties. No. original document should be sent directly to a Judge. Only documents properly filed with the Clerk of Court will be docketed in this case.

5. Letters sent to the Clerk of Court or Judge will not be answered. Only Motions will be ruled on by the Court.

6. Plaintiff and his/her family and friends must not call any Judge's office for any reason. No. information about the case can be obtained from the Judge's office. Brief questions about case status may be directed to the Clerk of Court, however, no Court employee can provide legal advice to any litigant.

7. It is Plaintiff's responsibility to actively pursue his/her case, obtain any essential discovery in compliance with the applicable rules and procedure, file necessary pleadings and motions, comply with Court orders, refrain from making frivolous or duplicative filings, and expeditiously prepare the case for trial. See, e.g., LCvR 26.1 (“Official Court-ordered and enforceable discovery does not commence until issuance of the scheduling order."); LCvR 26.2 ("The parties shall not file any initial disclosures, designations of expert witnesses and their reports, discovery requests or responses thereto, deposition transcripts, or other discovery material unless: (1) directed to do so by the Court; (2) such materials are necessary for use in an in-court proceeding; or (3) such materials are filed in support of, or in opposition to, a motion or petition."); Fed.R.Civ.P. 26(b)(2)(C) ("On motion or on its own, the court must limit the frequency or extent of discovery otherwise allowed by these rules or by local rule if it determines that: (i) the discovery sought is unreasonably cumulative or duplicative, or can be obtained from some other source that is more convenient, less burdensome, or less expensive; (ii) the party seeking discovery has had ample opportunity to obtain the information by discovery in the action; (iii) the proposed discovery is outside the scope permitted by Rule 26(b)(1).").

8. Premature, misdirected, or otherwise improper filings will not be permitted. See generally Dietz v. Bouldin. 136 S.Ct. 1885, 1892 (2016) ("district courts have the inherent authority to manage their dockets and courtrooms with a view toward the efficient and expedient resolution of case.").

9. Failure to comply with this or any other Court Order and/or applicable rules may result in sanctions up to and including dismissal of this action.

10. The Clerk of Court is hereby instructed not to issue any summonses or subpoenas in this case until specifically ordered by the Court.

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