No. 25-457October Term 2025Decided Mar 2, 2026Updated Mar 2, 2026
Johnson v. High Desert State Prison
Topaz Johnson, et al., Petitioners v. High Desert State Prison, et al.
The petitioners asked the Supreme Court to review a Ninth Circuit decision that prevented plaintiffs in a joint civil action from splitting filing fees, arguing this created a conflict with the Sixth Circuit.
Case status
Decided · March 2, 2026
Read the opinion (PDF)- Current stage
- Decided
- Latest event
- Decision released Mar 2, 2026
- What it's about
The petitioners asked the Supreme Court to review a Ninth Circuit decision that prevented plaintiffs in a joint civil action from splitting filing fees, arguing this created a conflict with the Sixth Circuit.
Question presented
Does 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1) require each incarcerated plaintiff filing in forma pauperis to pay the full amount of a filing fee whether or not he is filing a joint civil action with other plaintiffs?
- Case path
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit / Decision released Mar 2, 2026
- Area
Decided Supreme Court case
Timing
Decided March 2, 2026
The Court released its decision on March 2, 2026 without hearing oral argument.
Documents
Activity
Docket activity2
Opinion added: Opinion
Mar 2, 2026 | Court records
Brief added: Petition
Oct 10, 2025 | Court records
Related cases
Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary-source trail available.
- Note
- Plain-English explainer. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- May 1, 2026
- Method
- Methodology