Shields v. United States

Decision Date01 February 1962
PartiesWilliam Thomas SHIELDS, Petitioner, v. UNITED STATES of America, Respondent.
CourtU.S. District Court — Eastern District of Kentucky

William Thomas Shields, pro se.

No appearance for the United States.

HIRAM CHURCH FORD, District Judge.

William Thomas Shields, a prisoner now confined in the United States Penitentiary at Leavenworth, Kansas, pursuant to his conviction and sentence on September 16, 1959, under indictment No. 9009 then pending in this court, having been unsuccessful in securing relief by procedural methods prescribed by statute, tendered to the Clerk of this Court and sought leave to file herein a document entitled "Motion for Correction of Judicial Process", together with his affidavit that, because of his poverty, he is unable to prepay or to give security for the costs or fees, and for that reason he seeks action of court authorizing the commencement and prosecution of this proceeding without prepayment of fees or costs and without security therefor, pursuant to 28 U.S. C.A. § 1915.

It appears clear that the right to proceed in forma pauperis under Section 1915 of Title 28 U.S.Code is not an unqualified one, as pointed out in Loum v. Underwood, 6 Cir., 262 F.2d 866-867, but is a privilege rather than a right, the granting of which is within the discretion of the court to which the application is made. Application of Pierce, 9 Cir., 246 F.2d 902-903; Jefferson v. United States, 9 Cir., 277 F.2d 723, 724, cert. denied 364 U.S. 896, 81 S.Ct. 227, 5 L.Ed.2d 190; Fletcher v. Young, 4 Cir., 222 F.2d 222, cert. denied 350 U.S. 916, 76 S.Ct. 201, 100 L.Ed. 802; Higgins v. Steele, 8 Cir., 195 F.2d 366, and Nichols v. McGee, D.C., 169 F.Supp. 721-723.

Upon examination of the allegations of the motion and consideration of the authorities upon which jurisdiction of this unique procedure is based, I am of the opinion that this proceeding, upon the face of the motion, is clearly frivolous, without merit and, from a legal standpoint, lacking in good faith.

As a matter of law, the imposition of a consecutive sentence is not unlawful or invalid. "It appears to be settled law that the enactment of Section 3568, Title 18 U.S.Code did not deprive the Court of its power to impose consecutive sentences." Kay v. United States, 6 Cir., 279 F.2d 734.

In respect to the complaint that the charges contained in counts 1 and 2 of the indictment, pursuant to 18 U.S.C.A. § 495, are duplicative, rendering the second count...

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4 cases
  • Yates v. Wellman, Misc. 74-1.
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — Eastern District of Kentucky
    • March 27, 1974
    ...be granted only where the Court, in its discretion, is persuaded that a meritorious cause of action is stated. Shields v. United States, 201 F.Supp. 790 (E.D. Ky.1962), aff'd 310 F.2d 708 (6th Cir. 1962), cert. denied 374 U.S. 837, 83 S.Ct. 1888, 10 L.Ed.2d 1058 (1963). Conversely, pro se p......
  • Wagner v. Holmes
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — Eastern District of Kentucky
    • August 1, 1973
    ...not be exercised where it appears that the contemplated action is frivolous or malicious. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(d); Shields v. United States, E.D.Ky., 201 F.Supp. 790 (1962), aff'd 6th Cir., 310 F.2d 708 (1962), cert. denied 374 U.S. 837, 83 S.Ct. 1888, 10 L.Ed.2d 1058 (1963). This court finds n......
  • Rimka v. Fayette County Bd. of Com'rs, Lexington, Ky., 2540.
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — Eastern District of Kentucky
    • July 19, 1973
    ...Williams v. Field, 9th Cir., 394 F.2d 329 (1968), cert. denied 393 U.S. 891, 89 S.Ct. 213, 21 L.Ed.2d 171 (1968); Shields v. United States, E.D.Ky., 201 F.Supp. 790 (1962), aff'd 6th Cir., 310 F.2d 708 (1962), cert. denied 374 U.S. 837, 83 S. Ct. 1888, 10 L.Ed.2d 1058 (1963). Conversely, pr......
  • Green v. Wilson
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — Eastern District of Kentucky
    • June 15, 1981
    ...action is frivolous or malicious. 28 U.S.C. Section 1915(d); Wagner v. Holmes, 361 F.Supp. 895 (E.D.Ky.1973); Shields v. United States, 201 F.Supp. 790 (E.D.Ky. 1962), aff'd., 310 F.2d 708 (6th Cir. 1962), cert. denied, 374 U.S. 837, 83 S.Ct. 1888, 10 L.Ed.2d 1058 (1963). In Foster v. Unite......

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