USA v. Oliver et al

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff,
v.
TRAVIS J. SANDERS,
Defendant.
Case No. 13-cr-40114-JPG
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
This matter comes before the Court on defendant Travis J. Sanders’s motion for free
copies of certain documents in his court file (Doc. 236). He claims he needs those documents to
prepare a motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 and/or a motion for compassionate release under 18
U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A).
Defendants have no constitutional right to a complimentary copy of any document in
their court files. See United States v. Groce, 838 F. Supp. 411, 413, 414 (E.D. Wis. 1993).
Before providing copies free of charge, a district court may require the requester to show: (1)
that he has exhausted all other means of access to his files (i.e., through his trial and appellate
counsel), (2) that he is financially unable to secure access to his court files (i.e., through a
showing similar to that required in 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(2) which includes a certified copy of the
prisoner’s trust account for the previous six-month period prior to filing), and (3) that the
documents requested are necessary for some specific non-frivolous court action. See United
States v. Wilkinson, 618 F.2d 1215, 1218-19 (7th Cir. 1980); Rush v. United States, 559 F.2d
455, 459 (7th Cir. 1977); Groce, 838 F. Supp. at 413-14. These minimal requirements do not
impose any substantial burden to financially unable prisoners who desire their records be sent to
them at government expense.
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Sanders has not shown that he has exhausted other means of accessing the documents he
seeks or that he is unable to pay the fee to obtain copies from the Clerk’s Office. Further, there
is no ongoing § 2255 proceeding involving Sanders, and he has not explained how the requested
documents are necessary for a motion for compassionate release.
For these reasons, the Court DENIES the defendant’s motion for copies without
prejudice to another properly supported motion (Doc. 236).
IT IS SO ORDERED.
DATED: January 12, 2026
s/ J. Phil Gilbert
J. PHIL GILBERT
DISTRICT JUDGE
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