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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF UTAH

PRO SE LITIGANT GUIDE

Office of the Clerk of Court

TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION PAGE

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Section I: Important Issues You Should Consider Before You Decide To Represent Yourself In An Action Before This Court . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Section II: Procedure For Filing A Civil Rights Action Under Title 42 United States Code, Sections 1983 and 1985 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Section III: Actions Brought By Prisoners Appearing Pro Se . . 13 Section IV: Employment Discrimination Cases . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Section V: Application To proceed In Forma Pauperis . . . . . . 15

Section VI: Request For Appointment Of Counsel . . . . . . . . . . 17 Appendices: A: Motion and Order for Official Service Of Process B: List of Court Fees C: Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis D: Certificate of Service E: Motion for Appointment of Counsel F: Rule 4 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure
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INTRODUCTION

WHO THIS GUIDE IS INTENDED TO ASSIST: This Guide is designed to assist you if (I) you want to file a lawsuit in federal court or you have an active role, either as a plaintiff or defendant, in a case that you or someone else has filed already in federal court, and (ii) you have elected to proceed without the assistance of a trained and licensed attorney. SOME BASIC DEFINITIONS: Plaintiffs and defendants in court cases generally are referred to as the "parties" or "litigants." The plaintiff asserts a claim or right protected by law against the defendant; the defendant denies the claim or right, and the court determines whether the asserted claims or rights have merit. The great majority of litigants who appear in this court are represented by an attorney who has been trained in the law and is familiar with the applicable court rules and procedures. Parties or litigants who are not represented by licensed attorneys, who elect to represent themselves, generally are referred to as pro se parties or pro se litigants. Likewise, plaintiffs or defendants who represent themselves generally are referred to as pro se plaintiffs or pro se defendants. HOW THIS GUIDE SHOULD HELP YOU: This Guide will not answer all your questions about what you need to do to represent yourself effectively as a pro se litigant. The Guide outlines the basic steps that are required to properly file an action, or lawsuit, with this court. It also provides some general guidance on the next steps in the process of litigating the action once you have filed it with the clerk of court. However, you are responsible for learning about and following the procedures that govern the court process. Although the staff of the clerk's office can provide pro se litigants with general information concerning court rules and procedures, they are forbidden, as a matter of law, from providing legal advice, from interpreting and applying court rules, or otherwise participating, directly or indirectly, in any action. A WORD OF ADVICE: Self-representation carries certain responsibilities and risks that pro se litigants should be aware of before they proceed. The court encourages all individuals who are thinking about pro se or self-representation to
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carefully review the risks associated with self-representation and to inform themselves of the potential consequences. WARNING: Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure prohibits the filing of lawsuits that are clearly frivolous or filed merely to harass someone. If after reviewing your complaint, the court determines that you have filed a lawsuit for an improper or clearly unnecessary purpose, it may impose sanctions against you, including ordering you to pay a fine to the court or pay the legal fees of the person or persons against whom you filed the lawsuit.

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SECTION I IMPORTANT ISSUES YOU SHOULD CONSIDER BEFORE YOU DECIDE TO REPRESENT YOURSELF IN AN ACTION BEFORE THIS COURT
A. IS THIS COURT THE APPROPRIATE COURT TO HEAR YOUR DISPUTE?

The United States District Court for the District of Utah is one of 94 trial courts in the federal court system. Federal courts can only hear limited kinds of cases. As is the case in all of the federal trial courts, this court is authorized only to hear disputes that fall into the following four categories: 1. 2. 3. Those that deal with a question involving the United States Constitution; Those that involve questions of federal -- as opposed to state -- law; Those that involve the United States of America as a party, whether plaintiff or defendant; and, Those that involve a dispute among residents of different states with an amount in controversy more than $75,000.

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If your complaint does not fall under any of these categories, you cannot file it here.

B.

IS THERE AN ALTERNATIVE TO APPEARING PRO (REPRESENTING YOURSELF) THAT IS AFFORDABLE?

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Most people who file and pursue litigation in the federal court employ a licensed attorney who practices law, has appeared in court, and is familiar with the rules of procedure that govern court process. If you would prefer to have an attorney to represent you, but you are unable to afford one that charges high hourly rates, you should consider contacting the Utah State Bar Association's Lawyer Referral Service (telephone number (801) 531-9075) whose staff can explain the various options for
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obtaining and paying for legal services. There are other affordable options for legal assistance, including legal aid societies and legal services, that can assist you to obtain the services of an attorney at a reduced cost. You also may want to call the Utah State Bar Association for information about its Tuesday Night Bar, a program where attorneys voluntarily provide limited legal consultation without charge. If you cannot find an attorney to represent you, you have the right to pursue your claims in the court by appearing without representation or pro se, a Latin phrase that means "for yourself." Bear in mind that as a pro se litigant, you are representing only yourself and presenting only your claims or defenses. Under the law, you cannot speak for another person, a company, or other entity such as a club or association that includes other individuals. When you appear pro se, you must follow the same rules and procedures that licensed attorneys who practice in this court must follow. Generally, judges hold pro se litigants to the same standards of professional responsibility as trained attorneys. C. IF YOU PLAN TO REPRESENT YOURSELF, WHERE CAN YOU GO TO REVIEW THIS COURT'S RULES OF PROCEDURE AND APPLICABLE FEDERAL LAWS?

As a pro se litigant, you should be familiar with the appropriate sets of federal rules of procedure. These rules set forth the general procedural requirements for litigating cases in all federal courts. As a pro se litigant in a civil case, you should be familiar with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and the Federal Rules of Evidence. If you are a pro se defendant in a criminal case, you should familiarize yourself with the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure and Federal Rules of Evidence. Federal laws are located in the United States Code, which is abbreviated as "U.S.C." These rules and laws are available for review at several law libraries in the Salt Lake metropolitan area, as listed below. You should contact them by telephone to determine the hours they are open to the public. 1. The Utah State Law Library located in the Matheson Courthouse, 450 S. State Street, Room W-13, (801) 238-7990; The University of Utah College of Law Library located on University Street at
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2.

approximately 300 South on the University of Utah campus; and 3. The U.S. Courts Law Library located on the second floor of the United States Courthouse at 350 South Main Street in downtown Salt Lake City.

Most counties have law books available. Call your county library to inquire about the location of those books. Also, Brigham Young University's law school, located on the Brigham Young University campus in Provo, Utah, has a law library open to the public. As a pro se litigant, you also should be familiar with the District Court Rules of Practice, a set of rules commonly referred to as local rules that apply specifically to court proceedings in this court. The local rules include General Rules, Civil Rules, Criminal Rules, and Bankruptcy Rules. The libraries listed above have copies of the court's local rules available for review. A paper bound version of the local rules can be purchased at the clerk's office at the Frank E. Moss Courthouse for a nominal charge of $15.00. In addition, a version on a Compact Disk (CD) is available for $5.00. The clerk's office also accepts prepaid orders for the rules; there are no shipping or handling charges. For information, you should call (801)524-6100.

D.

ARE THERE CERTAIN TYPES OF CASES IN WHICH LITIGANTS TYPICALLY REPRESENT THEMSELVES?

As noted earlier, a litigant may appear pro se in any case that is properly within the jurisdiction of this court. There are three categories of cases that are most often filed by pro se litigants. They are as follows: 1. Cases alleging denial of civil rights under Title 42, United States Code, Section 1983; Cases alleging employment discrimination under Title 42 United States Code, Section 2000(e); and Cases filed by persons who are in jail or prison and who challenge their sentences or conditions of confinement.

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3.

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E.

HOW DO YOU START A NEW CASE?

File a Complaint: The plaintiff or person bringing the lawsuit to court must file a complaint. The complaint can be filed by hand-delivering it or mailing it to the clerk's office, Frank E. Moss United States Courthouse, Room 150, 350 South Main Street, Salt Lake City, Utah 84101. Whether you deliver or mail your complaint to the court, you must submit (I) an original and one copy of the complaint, (ii) a completed cover sheet, a copy of which can be obtained from the clerk's office, and (iii) the $350 filing fee (unless you are proceeding in forma pauperis as discussed in sections I(G) and V of this guide). The complaint outlines a problem or reason for the suit, also known as a cause of action. This complaint is given a case number and assigned to a district judge. Serve the Complaint: Each defendant or person whom the plaintiff claims is responsible for the problem must be notified of the lawsuit through a process that is specified under law. The responsibility for notifying each defendant rests with the plaintiff and is referred to as service of process. The provisions for service of process are described in Rule 4 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, a copy of which is attached as Appendix F. If these service of process requirements are not followed correctly, the case can be dismissed for failure to effect proper service of process. The defendant(s) can be notified by service of a summons. You can obtain the standard summons form from the clerk's office. After you complete this summons form, staff members of the clerk's office officially issue the summons; this means that an authorized court employee will sign the form and emboss it with the official seal of the court. The summons and complaint are then served on the defendant. Detailed provisions on how to serve the defendant are contained in Rule 4 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. You should carefully review the rule to make sure that you are familiar with those provisions. The service of process requirements can be satisfied in one of three ways.

1. Personal Service: Here you direct someone else to deliver or serve a copy of the complaint and summons on the defendant(s). Such service can be performed by anyone who is over eighteen years of age and who is not a party in the case.
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Constables and private process servers will do this for a fee. The person who serves the summons must record on the back of the summons form his or her name, the name of the person who was served, and the date and time of service. This section of the summons form is referred to as the return of service, and if it is not completed, service of process is not complete. Rule 4 requires confirmation that service has been completed. Such confirmation or proof that the documents have been served on the defendant requires that the original summons form with the return of service completed be returned to the court and that a copy of the form be left with the defendant. 2. Waiver of Service: Rule 4 permits a defendant to waive personal service of process. That means the defendant agrees to respond to your complaint without being served with it. The clerk's office can provide you with a waiver form that you can mail to the defendant. If the defendant completes and returns the waiver, you will be spared the burden of personal service. 3. Service by the U.S. Marshal: If a judge approves your application for waiver of the requirement to pay the $350 case filing fee as described in Section V of this Guide, you may request that the judge direct the U.S. Marshal to serve the summons and complaint at government expense. However, you must make such a request by formal written motion and also provide the judge with a proposed order directing service of process for the judge to sign. Examples of such a motion and order are attached to this Guide as Appendix A. The judge may or may not grant the motion and sign the order. After you file your complaint with the clerk's office, you have 120 days to serve a copy of it and the summons on the defendant(s). It is your responsibility to effect service; if you fail to do so within the 120 days, your case may be dismissed.

File and Serve the Response: Once the defendant(s) has been served with a copy of the complaint, the defendant(s) must file with the court an answer or some other response within a specified number of days. Under the rules governing service of process, each defendant is required to provide a copy of the response on the plaintiff. Once each defendant has filed a response the case is considered at issue.

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F.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A CASE IS AT ISSUE? When a case is at issue, any one of a number of different procedures may occur.

Referral to a Magistrate Judge: The district judge to whom the case is assigned may refer the case to a magistrate judge for assistance in managing it. To do so, the district judge signs an order of reference. Once a case has been referred to a magistrate judge, subsequent court proceedings may be conducted before that judge. Filing of Motions and Objections: Either party-- the plaintiff or the defendant-may request that the court take specific action related to the case. To do so, the party prepares a formal request or what is referred to as a motion. Local Rule 105-1 provides formatting instructions for motions and other papers. The party then signs the motion, submits it or files it with the clerk of court, and sends a copy to the opposing party. The opposing party may file with the clerk of court an objection or a responsive pleading to the motion. This objection sets forth the reasons why the court should deny rather than grant the motion. Motion Review: The district or magistrate judge may schedule hearings to provide the parties with an opportunity to argue the motion and the objections. Or, the judge may decide a hearing is unnecessary and rule on the motion by issuing a written order that either grants, denies, or partially grants and partially denies what the motion sought. Dispositive vs. Nondispositive Motions: Motions fall into two broad categories: dispositive and nondispositive. Dispositive motions, if granted, dispose of the case; nondispositive motions, if granted, affect the case but do not dispose of it. District judges have the authority to rule on both kinds of motions; magistrate judges are authorized to rule only on nondispositive motions. Magistrate Judge Report and Recommendation: Where the case has been referred to a magistrate judge and one of the parties files a dispositive motion, the magistrate judge is authorized to prepare a written report and recommendation, essentially a recommendation that the motion be either granted or denied and stating the reason why. This report and recommendation then is forwarded to the district judge assigned to the case, and copies are sent to the parties. As a party, you have a certain number of days within which to file objections to the report and recommendation. All
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objections that are received within the specified time are forwarded to the district judge. The district judge reviews the report and recommendation and any objections that have been filed. The district judge then will issue an order that adopts, rejects, or adopts in part and rejects in part the magistrate judge's report and recommendation. Where the judge's order dismisses the complaint and the cause of action, the clerk of court will prepare and enter a judgment in the case. Such judgment is final and can be appealed only to the Tenth United States Circuit Court of Appeals located in Denver, Colorado. G. WHAT COURT FEES AND COSTS ARE YOU REQUIRED TO PAY?

The fee for filing a complaint and opening a civil case in any U.S. District court is $350. This may be paid by cash, check, or VISA/MASTERCARD. A list of the fees charged by the court for various services and materials is attached to this Guide as Appendix B, and is also available in the clerk's office. If you are unable to pay the filing fee, you may apply for permission to proceed in forma pauperis, which is Latin for "in the form of a pauper." Information on filing in forma pauperis is located in section V of this guide. An application form for filing in forma pauperis is attached to this guide as Appendix C . Such forms also are available at the clerk's office. Completed applications are forwarded to a magistrate judge for review. If your application is denied by the judge, your case cannot be opened until you pay the filing fee. Waiver of the filing fee by the magistrate judge does not automatically waive the other costs associated with pursuing or litigating your case. If, for example, you need copies of original documents in your case file, the clerk's office is required to charge the standard rate of $.50 per page. Service of your complaint on the other party will entail additional costs unless you have made and the court has approved a motion that the United States Marshal serve your complaint (see section I(E)(3) of this guide). Other expenses you will incur include the cost of (I) preparing the original and copies of the papers you file with the court, and (ii) mailing or handdelivering a copy of each paper to the opposing party to satisfy the requirements of service. H. HOW DO YOU SUBMIT DOCUMENTS TO THE COURT? Case-related documents that ask the court to take specific action are referred
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to as motions or pleadings. If, for example, you want to ask the court to take an action, such as appointing an attorney, you must do so by means of a written motion. A motion should be supported by a summary of the law supporting the motion called a memorandum and/or by an affidavit or declaration of the movant that provide the court with facts that support the granting of the motion. In preparing a motion, you should follow the same general format as the motion for official service of process that is attached to this Guide as Appendix A. In preparing motions, you should be as specific as possible about the order or the action you would like the court to take. As a matter of policy, the court requires parties to submit or file an original and one copy of most motions or pleadings with the clerk of court. Staff of the clerk's office stamp both, then place the original in the case file and give the copy to the assigned judge for review and analysis. Parties may file pleadings with the court in person or by mail. For purposes of filing in person, the clerk's office is located in Room 150 of the Frank E. Moss United States Courthouse on the corner of Fourth South and Main Streets. The telephone number for the clerk's office is (801) 5246100. The office is open to the public from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except on federal holidays. For ease of filing, the clerk also maintains a twenty-four hour filing box on the south porch of the Main Street side of the building. Directions for filing documents are provided on the box, enabling parties to stamp and deposit papers -- the original as well as the judge's copy -- in that box at any time, including weekends and holidays. As noted, pleadings also may be mailed to the clerk's office. The mailing address is: United States District Court, Office of the Clerk Suite 150, Frank E. Moss Courthouse 350 South Main Street Salt Lake City, Utah 84101 You should retain a copy of all pleadings and other documents you file with the court for your own use. When you file pleadings in person, plan to bring your personal copy with you so staff of the clerk's office can stamp it. By doing so, your records will reflect the filing date of the original. If you mail your pleading and wish to have your copy stamped, you should enclose a third copy and a self-addressed, stamped envelope. The clerk's office will return your copy stamped by the court. Note: When you submit a pleading to the court, you also must mail or
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deliver a copy of the pleading to the defendant's attorney, or, if the defendant has no attorney, to the defendant. At the end of your pleading, you must include a certificate of service that states the date that you mailed or delivered a copy of the pleading to the defendant. A sample form for a certificate of service is attached to this guide as Appendix D. I. HOW DO YOU OBTAIN INFORMATION ABOUT THE STATUS AND PROGRESS OF YOUR CASE?

The clerk's office maintains an automated record or docket for every case. This docket is a chronological summary of all significant events in the history of the case. For example, each time you file a pleading or appear for a hearing, an entry summarizing the event is added to the case docket. You may review the docket on the public access terminals located in the public review area in the clerk's office. Alternatively, if you have a personal computer (PC) and modem with communications software, by registering with the court you can dial up the court's automated PACER system and review your case docket directly on your PC; note that use of this capability is billed at $.08 per page charge for viewing and use of it requires that you register PACER by calling (800) 676-6856 or (210) 301-6440 and obtain a password. If you wish to have a paper copy of your docket, staff of the clerk's office will provide it for you at $.50 per page. Staff of the clerk's office also can provide you with basic docket information over the telephone. It is important that you realize that staff of the clerk's office do not know and cannot provide you with the reasons for a judge's decision. Nor is the clerk's office in a position to know when a judge will respond to a motion or issue a ruling in a case. The judge's personal staff -- the secretary or a law clerk -- can respond to specific questions regarding scheduling. J. IS IT POSSIBLE FOR YOU TO SPEAK DIRECTLY TO A JUDGE OR MEMBER OF HIS PERSONAL STAFF ABOUT YOUR CASE?

As a party appearing pro se, you are prohibited from all private or ex parte communication with the judge to whom your case is assigned. Ex parte communication occurs when one of the parties to a lawsuit exchanges information
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with the assigned judge (I) without the opposing party being present or (ii) without the knowledge and consent of the opposing party. With few exceptions, because of this prohibition a judge will refuse to speak or otherwise communicate ex parte with any party to a case that is assigned to him. Any communication between the assigned judge and a pro se litigant should be in writing, and a copy of the communication should be sent either to the opposing party or that party's attorney. For example, a party appearing pro se should send to the opposing party a copy of any letter sent to the judge. Moreover, the letter to the judge should indicate that a copy has been sent to the opposing party. As noted above, telephone or personal contact with the judge's personal staff should be limited to specific scheduling inquiries.

SECTION II PROCEDURE FOR FILING A CIVIL RIGHTS ACTION UNDER TITLE 42 UNITED STATES CODE, SECTIONS 1983 AND 1985:
One type of action frequently filed by pro se litigants is alleged denial or violation of an individual's civil rights. In a civil rights complaint, a pro se plaintiff is alleging that his or her constitutional rights or privileges or immunities have been violated. The federal law under which a civil rights claim arises is 42 U.S.C. sections 1983 and 1985. As noted earlier in this guide, to file an action in this court you first must prepare a complaint. Most complaints filed by pro se litigants involve alleged violations of civil rights. To assist pro se litigants with the process of filing a federal civil rights complaint, the clerk's office has prepared an information packet called Information for Filing a Civil Rights Complaint Under 42 United States Code Sections 1983 and 1985. That packet includes a sample complaint form that you should use as a guide when you prepare your complaint; the packet is available at the clerk's office. Your complaint should be either typed or handwritten. In either case, you should make certain that your complaint is legible and can be easily read by the judge.

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SECTION III ACTIONS BROUGHT BY PRISONERS APPEARING PRO SE
Persons who are confined or incarcerated in a jail or a prison occasionally file pro se actions with the court. These actions fall into three general categories. A. Appeal of Sentence: This is a criminal action in which a prisoner submits an appeal to have a higher or superior court review the punishment or sentence that the trial court imposed. If a person was sentenced by a judge from the United States District Court for the District of Utah, an appeal is made to the Tenth United States Circuit Court of Appeals which is located in Denver, Colorado. An appeal to the Tenth Circuit is made by filing a notice of appeal with the clerk of the court in Salt Lake City. Appeals to the Tenth Circuit are governed by the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure, which set forth specific time deadlines for filing an appeal. See section I(C) for information on where you can review those rules. B. Writ of Habeas Corpus: In this type of action, the prisoner applies or petitions this court for a writ of habeas corpus; this is, in essence, an action that challenges the constitutionality of the confinement and seeks to have the sentence vacated, or dismissed. Both of these actions are established by federal law. If you are in state custody, having been sentenced by a state court judge, you may file a petition under 28 U.S.C. § 2254. If, alternatively, you are in federal custody, having been sentenced by a federal judge, you may file a motion to vacate sentence under 28 U.S.C. § 2255. The office of the clerk has prepared separate information packets, complete with the required forms, for these two types of actions. To obtain a copy of either packet, you should contact the office of the clerk. Note: Section 2254 and 2255 proceedings are governed by special rules called Rules Governing Section 2254 and 2255 Proceedings. It is the petitioner's responsibility to become familiar with those rules. See section I(C)for information on where you can find those rules.

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C. Prisoner Civil Rights: In this type of action, a prisoner challenges the conditions of confinement, or the way he or she is being treated in prison or jail. This type of action generally takes the form of a civil rights complaint. If you wish to file a civil rights complaint, you should ask the clerk's office for a copy of the information packet called Information for Filing a Complaint Under 42 U.S.C. Sections 1983 and 1985. That packet includes a sample complaint form that you should use as a guide when you prepare your complaint.

SECTION IV EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION CASES
Another type of action filed by pro se litigants is alleged employment discrimination. Prior to filing an employment discrimination complaint in federal court, the plaintiff is required to follow specific administrative procedures. Note: This is not a complete statement of the law on the administrative procedures to follow in an employment discrimination case. The procedures are complicated and it is the pro se litigant's responsibility to make sure that all procedures are followed correctly and within the applicable time limit. If the requirements are not followed, your case may be dismissed. A. PROCEDURES TO FOLLOW BEFORE THE COMPLAINT IS FILED: If you wish to file an employment discrimination case in this court, you first must file your charges with the Anti-Discrimination Division of the Utah State Industrial Commission (UADD). In most cases, the UADD will review your charges and, barring complications, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) will issue to you a Notice of Right to Sue indicating that (I) the administrative process has been completed, and (ii) no further action will be taken on behalf of the EEOC. Once this notice is issued, you have a limited time period within which to file your lawsuit; failure to file a complaint in that time period will result in having your cause of action dismissed by this court. A Notice of Right to Sue is not issued where the charges allege employment discrimination based on age. However, not having such a notice will not prevent you from filing an employment discrimination complaint based on age.

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The Notice of Right to Sue will indicate that you, as the litigant, have the right to request the court to appoint an attorney to represent you if, for financial reasons, you are unable to retain your own attorney. You should bear in mind that in this court, a request for appointment of an attorney will be considered only after a complaint has been filed and is pending before the court. B. PREPARING THE COMPLAINT: To assist a party appearing pro se in filing an employment discrimination complaint, the office of the clerk has prepared an information packet called Information on Filing an Employment Discrimination Complaint. The packet is available at the clerk's office. The packet includes a sample complaint form to assist you in filing an employment discrimination complaint. You should make certain that your complaint is legible and can be easily read by the judge.

SECTION V APPLICATION TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS
As is noted earlier in this Guide, filing a case in this court requires the plaintiff to pay a $350 filing fee at the time the new case is filed. If you are unable to pay this fee, you may apply to have payment of the fee waived. Bear in mind that you can apply for waiver of the fee only after your action is filed. The clerk's office will accept your case without payment if, at the time you file it, you also apply for waiver of the fee. If the judge subsequently denies your waiver application, you will be required to pay the $350 fee; if you do not pay it within a specified period of time, your case will be dismissed. The application process requires that you complete and submit an Application to Proceed in Forma Pauperis. An application is attached to this Guide as Appendix C. Brief instructions for completing the application are as follows. At the top of the application, you must note the name of the case or case caption: the case name consists of your name as plaintiff above the v. and the
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name(s) of the defendant(s) below the v. Staff in the clerk's office will provide the case number. You must answer all questions truthfully and completely. If you own real estate or automobiles that have outstanding mortgages or loans, you should be very specific about your debt balance so the magistrate judge who reviews the application has accurate information as to the property's value. You also must sign the statement under penalty of perjury. If you currently are incarcerated, you must have the institution's financial officer certify the amount of money in your prisoner account. There is a special guide available for prisoners which explains the special provisions of law related to the filing of petitions or complaints with a waiver of the filing fee. Pro se litigants who are not incarcerated need not complete the Certificate Section. The completed application form should be submitted to the clerk's office. Staff there will transmit it with the complaint to a magistrate judge for review. If the magistrate judge grants the application, it will be returned with the case file to the clerk's office for subsequent processing. Where the magistrate judge determines that the application should not be approved, he will consult with a district judge who will either grant or deny the application. In some instances, the judge may grant partial waiver; in such case, you would be required to pay a portion of the filing fee. As was noted earlier, if your application is denied, you may file your action only if you pay the filing fee. Because the process of reviewing your application may take more than one business day, you should call the intake office the following day to determine whether it was approved. The telephone number is (801) 524-6100.

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SECTION VI REQUEST FOR APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL
Pro se litigants may ask the court to appoint an attorney, or counsel, for them in a civil case. The Court has a limited number of attorneys to accept cases on behalf of the Court. These attorneys serve pro bono, or without charge, to the pro se litigant. Pro se litigants have no right to be represented by court-appointed counsel, and the court has no obligation to appoint counsel. The court will appoint counsel in a few select cases where having an attorney seems particularly appropriate or important. If you would like to request that the court appoint counsel to represent you in your lawsuit, you must file a "motion for appointment of counsel" form with the court. The form should be filed with the complaint. A copy of a motion for appointment of counsel is attached to this Guide as Appendix E.

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APPENDIX A Name: Address: Telephone: _____________________________________________________________ IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF UTAH - __________ DIVISION _____________________________________________________________ : Plaintiff, v. : : : : : Defendant(s). : : ______________________________________________________________ The plaintiff in the above entitled matter hereby moves the court for an order directing the United States Marshal's Service to serve process pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915. The court has already approved my application to file the matter in forma pauperis. The full names and addresses of the defendants are contained in the complaint. Dated this ____day of __________, 20__. ________________________ (Print your name below your signature.) Civil No: MOTION FOR OFFICIAL SERVICE OF PROCESS

APPENDIX A (CONTINUED) Name: Address: Telephone: _____________________________________________________________ IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF UTAH - __________ DIVISION _____________________________________________________________ : Plaintiff, v. : : : : : Defendant(s). : : ______________________________________________________________ It having been determined that the plaintiff(s) may proceed in forma pauperis, IT IS ORDERED that the United States Marshal serve a copy of the complaint and summons upon the following defendant(s): ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ All costs of service shall be advanced by the United States. Dated this ____day of __________, 20__. ________________________ United States District or Magistrate Judge Civil No: ORDER

APPENDIX D Name: Address: Telephone: _____________________________________________________________ IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF UTAH - __________ DIVISION _____________________________________________________________ : Plaintiff, v. : : : : : Defendant(s). : : ______________________________________________________________ I hereby certify that a copy of the foregoing (Name of pleading) was mailed/delivered to at (choose one) (Name of defendant(s) or defendant's attorney) on (Date) ________________________________ (Signature of person mailing document) , 20 . Civil No: CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

(Address)

APPENDIX E Name: Address: Telephone: _____________________________________________________________ IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF UTAH - __________ DIVISION _____________________________________________________________ : Plaintiff, v. : : : : : Defendant(s). : : ______________________________________________________________ The plaintiff in the above entitled matter hereby moves the court for an order appointing legal counsel to act on his/her behalf. The court has already approved the plaintiff's application to file the matter in forma pauperis. Dated this ____day of __________, 20__. ________________________ (Print your name below your signature.) Civil No: MOTION FOR APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL

Appendix F
Rule 4. Summons 1. (a) Form. The summons shall be signed by the clerk, bear the seal of the court, identify the court and the parties, be directed to the defendant, and state the name and address of the plaintiff's attorney or, if unrepresented, of the plaintiff. It shall also state the time within which the defendant must appear and defend, and notify the defendant that failure to do so will result in a judgment by default against the defendant for the relief demanded in the complaint. The court may allow a summons to be amended. (b) Issuance. Upon or after filing the complaint, the plaintiff may present a summons to the clerk for signature and seal. If the summons is in proper form, the clerk shall sign, seal, and issue it to the plaintiff for service on the defendant. A summons, or a copy of the summons if addressed to multiple defendants, shall be issued for each defendant to be served. (c) Service with Complaint; by W hom M ade. (1) A summons shall be served together with a copy of the complaint. The plaintiff is responsible for service of a summons and complaint within the time allowed under subdivision (m) and shall furnish the person effecting service with the necessary copies of the summons and complaint. (2) Service may be effected by any person who is not a party and who is at least 18 years of age. At the request of the plaintiff, however, the court may direct that service be effected by a United States marshal, deputy United States marshal, or other person or officer specially appointed by the court for that purpose. Such an appointment must be made when the plaintiff is authorized to proceed in forma pauperis pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915 or is authorized to proceed as a seaman under 28 U.S.C. § 1916. (d) W aiver of Service; Duty to Save Costs of Service; Request to W aive. (1) A defendant who waives service of a summons does not thereby waive any objection to the venue or to the jurisdiction of the court over the person of the defendant. (2) An individual, corporation, or association that is subject to service under subdivision (e), (f), or (h) and that receives notice of an action in the manner provided in this paragraph has a duty to avoid unnecessary costs of serving the summons. To avoid costs, the plaintiff may notify such a defendant of the commencement of the action and request that the defendant waive service of a summons. The notice and request (A) shall be in writing and shall be addressed directly to the defendant, if an individual, or else to an officer or managing or general agent (or other agent authorized by appointment or law to receive service of process) of a defendant subject to service under subdivision (h); (B) shall be dispatched through first-class mail or other reliable means; (C) shall be accompanied by a copy of the complaint and shall identify the court in which it has been filed; (D) shall inform the defendant, by means of a text prescribed in an official form promulgated pursuant to Rule 84, of the consequences of compliance and of a failure to comply with the request; (E) shall set forth the date on which request is sent; (F) shall allow the defendant a reasonable time to return the waiver, which shall be at least 30 days from the date on which the request is sent, or 60 days from that date if the defendant is addressed outside any judicial district of the United States; and

(G) shall provide the defendant with an extra copy of the notice and request, as well as a prepaid means of compliance in writing. If a defendant located within the United States fails to comply with a request for waiver made by a plaintiff located within the United States, the court shall impose the costs subsequently incurred in effecting service on the defendant unless good cause for the failure be shown. (3) A defendant that, before being served with process, timely returns a waiver so requested is not required to serve an answer to the complaint until 60 days after the date on which the request for waiver of service was sent, or 90 days after that date if the defendant was addressed outside any judicial district of the United States. (4) W hen the plaintiff files a waiver of service with the court, the action shall proceed, except as provided in paragraph (3), as if a summons and complaint had been served at the time of filing the waiver, and no proof of service shall be required. (5) The costs to be imposed on a defendant under paragraph (2) for failure to comply with a request to waive service of a summons shall include the costs subsequently incurred in effecting service under subdivision (e), (f), or (h), together with the costs, including a reasonable attorney's fee, of any motion required to collect the costs of service. (e) Service Upon Individuals W ithin a Judicial District of the United States. Unless otherwise provided by federal law, service upon an individual from whom a waiver has not been obtained and filed, other than an infant or an incompetent person, may be effected in any judicial district of the United States: (1) pursuant to the law of the state in which the district court is located, or in which service is effected, for the service of a summons upon the defendant in an action brought in the courts of general jurisdiction of the State; or (2) by delivering a copy of the summons and of the complaint to the individual personally or by leaving copies thereof at the individual's dwelling house or usual place of abode with some person of suitable age and discretion then residing therein or by delivering a copy of the summons and of the complaint to an agent authorized by appointment or by law to receive service of process. (f) Service Upon Individuals in a Foreign Country. Unless otherwise provided by federal law, service upon an individual from whom a waiver has not been obtained and filed, other than an infant or an incompetent person, may be effected in a place not within any judicial district of the United States: (1) by any internationally agreed means reasonably calculated to give notice, such as those means authorized by the Hague Convention on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extrajudicial Documents; or (2) if there is no internationally agreed means of service or the applicable international agreement allows other means of service, provided that service is reasonably calculated to give notice: (A) in the manner prescribed by the law of the foreign country for service in that country in an action in any of its courts of general jurisdiction; or (B) as directed by the foreign authority in response to a letter rogatory or letter of request; or (C) unless prohibited by the law of the foreign country, by (i) delivery to the individual personally of a copy of the summons and the complaint; or (ii) any form of mail requiring a signed receipt, to be addressed and dispatched by the clerk of the court to the party to be served; or (3) by other means not prohibited by international agreement as may be directed by the court.

(g) Service Upon Infants and Incompetent Person. Service upon an infant or an incompetent person in a judicial district of the United States shall be effected in the manner prescribed by the law of the state in which the service is made for the service of summons or like process upon any such defendant in an action brought in the courts of general jurisdiction of that state. Service upon an infant or an incompetent person in a place not within any judicial district of the United States shall be effected in the manner prescribed by paragraph (2)(A) or (2)(B) of subdivision (f) or by such means as the court may direct. (h) Service Upon Corporations and Associations. Unless otherwise provided by federal law, service upon a domestic or foreign corporation or upon a partnership or other unincorporated association that is subject to suit under a common name, and from which a waiver of service has not been obtained and filed, shall be effected: (1) in a judicial district of the United States in the manner prescribed for individuals by subdivision (e)(1), or by delivering a copy of the summons and of the complaint to an officer, a managing or general agent, or to any other agent authorized by appointment or by law to receive service of process and, if the agent is one authorized by statute to receive service and the statute so requires, by also mailing a copy to the defendant, or (2) in a place not within any judicial district of the United States in any manner prescribed for individuals by subdivision (f) except personal delivery as provided in paragraph (2)(C)(i) thereof. (i) Serving the United States, Its Agencies, Corporations, Officers, or Employees. (1) Service upon the United States shall be effected (A) by delivering a copy of the summons and of the complaint to the United States attorney for the district in which the action is brought or to an assistant United States attorney or clerical employee designated by the United States attorney in a writing filed with the clerk of the court or by sending a copy of the summons and of the complaint by registered or certified mail addressed to the civil process clerk at the office of the United States attorney and (B) by also sending a copy of the summons and of the complaint by registered or certified mail to the Attorney General of the United States at W ashington, District of Columbia, and (C) in any action attacking the validity of an order of an officer or agency of the United States not made a party, by also sending a copy of the summons and of the complaint by registered or certified mail to the officer or agency. (2) (A) Service on an agency or corporation of the United States, or an officer or employee of the United States sued only in an official capacity, is effected by serving the United States in the manner prescribed by Rule 4(i)(1) and by also sending a copy of the summons and complaint by registered or certified mail to the officer, employee, agency, or corporation. (B)Service on an officer or employee of the United States sued in an individual capacity for acts or omissions occurring in connection with the performance of duties on behalf of the United States - whether or not the officer or employee is sued also in an official capacity - is effected by serving the United States in the manner prescribed by Rule 4(i)(1) and by serving the officer or employee in the manner prescribed by Rule 4 (e), (f), or (g). (3) The court shall allow a reasonable time to serve process under Rule 4(i) for the purpose of curing the failure to serve: (A) all persons required to be served in an action governed by Rule 4(i)(2)(A), if the plaintiff has served either the United States attorney or the Attorney General of the United States, or (B) the United States in an action governed by Rule 4(i)(2)(B), if the plaintiff has served an officer or employee of the United States sued in an individual capacity.

(j) Service Upon Foreign, State, or Local Governments. (1) Service upon a foreign state or a political subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof shall be effected pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1608. (2) Service upon a state, municipal corporation, or other governmental organization subject to suit, shall be effected by delivering a copy of the summons and of the complaint to its chief executive officer or by serving the summons and complaint in the manner prescribed by the law of that state for the service of summons or other like process upon any such defendant. (k) Territorial Limits of Effective Service. (1) Service of a summons or filing a waiver of service is effective to establish jurisdiction over the person of a defendant (A) who could be subjected to the jurisdiction of a court of general jurisdiction in the state in which the district court is located, or (B) who is a party joined under Rule 14 or Rule 19 and is served at a place within a judicial district of the United States and not more than 100 miles from the place from which the summons issues, or (C) who is subject to the federal interpleader jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1335, or (D) when authorized by a statute of the United States. (2) If the exercise of jurisdiction is consistent with the Constitution and laws of the United States, serving a summons or filing a waiver of service is also effective, with respect to claims arising under federal law, to establish personal jurisdiction over the person of any defendant who is not subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of general jurisdiction of any state. (l) Proof of Service. If service is not waived, the person effecting service shall make proof thereof to the court. If service is made by a person other than a United States marshal or deputy United States marshal, the person shall make affidavit thereof. Proof of service in a place not within any judicial district of the United States shall, if effected under paragraph (1) of subdivision (f), be made pursuant to the applicable treaty or convention, and shall, if effected under paragraph (2) or (3) thereof, include a receipt signed by the addressee or other evidence of delivery to the addressee satisfactory to the court. Failure to make proof of service does not affect the validity of the service. The court may allow proof of service to be amended. (m) Time Limit for Service. If service of the summons and complaint is not made upon a defendant within 120 days after the filing of the complaint, the court, upon motion or on its own initiative after notice to the plaintiff, shall dismiss the action without prejudice as to that defendant or direct that service be effected within a specified time; provided that if the plaintiff shows good cause for the failure, the court shall extend the time for service for an appropriate period. This subdivision does not apply to service in a foreign country pursuant to subdivision (f) or (j)(1). (n) Seizure of Property; Service of Summons not Feasible. (1) If a statute of the United States so provides, the court may assert jurisdiction over property. Notice to claimants of the property shall than be sent in the manner provided by the statute or by service of a summons under this rule. (2) Upon a showing that personal jurisdiction over a defendant cannot, in the district where the action is brought, be obtained with reasonable efforts by service of summons in any manner authorized by this rule, the court may assert jurisdiction over any of the defendant's assets found within the district by seizing the assets under the circumstances and in the manner provided by the law of the state in which the district court is located.