United States Ninth Circuit

Although the initial fee requirement in the Prison Litigation Reform Act does not violate defendant's right of meaningful access to the courts or equal protection of the laws, a prisoner cannot be prohibited from bringing and prosecuting a civil rights action because of his inability to pay the initial fee.

Appellate Information

• Argued 11/05/2001
• Decided 02/12/2002
• Published 02/12/2002

Judges

• Before:  NOONAN, HAWKINS, and TASHIMA, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Ninth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Brett J. Williamson,Peter R. Afrasiabi, John Tehranian (argued), O'Melveny & Myers LLP, Newport Beach, CA, for the plaintiff-appellant.


• For Appellees:
  
• Toni Bruno, Kelmalyan & Richland, LLP, Los Angeles, CA, for the defendants-appellees.