United States v. Key

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT No. 01-50964 Conference Calendar UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee, versus TRAVIS HOMER KEY, JR., Defendant-Appellant. -------------------- Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas USDC No. W-92-CR-78-ALL -------------------- June 18, 2002 Before HIGGINBOTHAM, DAVIS, and EMILIO M. GARZA, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* Travis Homer Key, Jr., federal prisoner # 60214-080, seeks leave to appeal in forma pauperis (“IFP”) the denial of his motion to compel state and federal authorities to produce all documents related to his 1992 guilty-plea conviction for second degree murder. The motion to compel was filed over three years after the district court denied his 28 U.S.C. § 2255 motion. * Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR. R. 47.5.4. No. 01-50964 -2- By moving for IFP, Key is challenging the district court’s certification that IFP status should not be granted on appeal because his appeal is not taken in good faith. See Baugh v. Taylor, 117 F.3d 197, 202 (5th Cir. 1997). Although he does not specifically challenge the district court’s certification, Key argues that he is indigent and states that he needs the requested documents to prove his innocence. Key’s motion to compel was unauthorized and without a jurisdictional basis. See United States v. Early, 27 F.3d 140, 141 (5th Cir. 1994). Because Key is appealing from “the denial of a meaningless, unauthorized motion” (id. at 142), the appeal is without arguable merit and is therefore DISMISSED. See Howard v. King, 707 F.2d 215, 219-20 (5th Cir. 1983); 5TH CIR. R. 42.2; see also Baugh, 117 F.3d at 202 n.24. The IFP motion is DENIED, as are the motions for leave to file a supplemental brief and the appointment of counsel. Key is CAUTIONED that any future frivolous filings will be met with sanctions. APPEAL DISMISSED; MOTIONS DENIED; SANCTIONS WARNING ISSUED.