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No. 19-7901October Term 2019Decided May 18, 2020

Docket 19-7901October Term 2019 (2019–2020)

Powers v. Smith

This case involves a petition for a writ of certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.

Case status

Current stage
Decided
Latest event
Decision released May 18, 2020
Case Accepted
Arguments
Decision ReleasedMay 18, 2020
What it's about

This case involves a petition for a writ of certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. The specific legal and factual details of the dispute between Powers and Smith are not provided in the available record.

Question presented

1. WHETHER THE DISTRICT COURT IS DENYING AN INDIGENT CIVIL DETAINEE (PRE TRIAL DETAINEE' ’) FOR SEVEN YEARS (JUNE 26,2012) FROM ACCESSING THE COURT WHEN PLAINTIFF EARNS NO MONIES AND IS WELL BELOW THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL? 2. WHETHER THE DISTRICT COURT AND THE COURT OF APPEALS ASSESSING $1,000.00 SETTLEMENT MONEY AS INCOME AND DID NOT TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE LITIGATION EXPENSES OF $1,300.00 ONLY TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION OF FABRICATED ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TREATMENT AND DETENTION FACILITY TRUST FUND REPORTS? 3. WHETHER THE PLAINTIFF EARNS ANY MONEY AT THE "IDHS/TDF" FACILITY ONLY LIFE REWARD POINTS ONLY TO BE USED AT THE FACILITY STORE TO PURCHASE HYGIENE, LEGAL SUPPLIES,CLOTHES AND FOOD AND THE US DISTRICT COURT WOULD NOT ORDER THE "IDHS/TDF" TO CONVERT THESE POINTS TO MONEY FOR THE FILING FEES? 4. WHETHER THIS INDIGENT PLAINTIFF CAN EARN MONIES AND IS BEING HELD UNCONSTITUTIONALLY IN A ILLINOIS "SECONDARY PRISON SYSTEM" AND CANNOT ACCESS THE COURT BECAUSE OF HIS INDIGENCY?

Case path

United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit / Decision released May 18, 2020

Area

Decided Supreme Court case

Grounding

Grounding
Primary-source trail available.
Note
Plain-English explainer. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
Checked
Apr 27, 2026
Primary materials5