In Forma Pauperis

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IN FORMA PAUPERIS

(Latin: "In the manner of a poor person.") To insure that access to the courts is not barred by inability to pay the costs of litigation, poor persons may have fees and some procedural requirements waived and counsel appointed at public expense. In the federal courts this privilege is granted by law to anyone swearing he is without means.

More than half the petitions received by the Supreme Court are filed in forma pauperis, often by prisoners seeking review of criminal convictions or of denials of habeas corpus petitions on constitutional grounds. Probably the most famous case to arise in this way was gideon v. wain-wright (1963).

Dennis J. Mahoney
(1986)