Prince Paul Raymond Williams v. Professional Courier and Newspaper Distribution, d/b/a Brandt Brothers, et al.

Summary

The United States District Court for the Eastern District of California denied without prejudice a pro se plaintiff’s motion for permission to use the court’s electronic filing system. The court held that convenience, cost savings, and generalized access concerns did not establish sufficient grounds for an exception to the local rules prohibiting pro se electronic filing, while allowing the plaintiff to renew the request if circumstances changed.

Holdings

1. A pro se plaintiff may not use electronic filing absent judicial permission, and plaintiff's stated reasons did not provide a sufficient explanation to justify an exception from the Eastern District of California Local Rules.

Questions Presented

1. Whether a pro se plaintiff established sufficient grounds under the Eastern District of California Local Rules to obtain an exception permitting access to CM/ECF.
2. Whether convenience, cost savings, and generalized concerns about access to the courts justified permitting a pro se plaintiff to file electronically.

Disposition

other