Tyree Deshawn Mims v. City of Gloucester

Syllabus

This appeal concerned the threshold requirements for an applicant's waiver of court fees based on indigency. 1:13-2(a), governing proceedings by indigents, was supplemented by the New Jersey Supreme Court's April 5, 2017 order, which established a standard fee waiver application process and criteria. The Court's order authorized the Administrative Office of the Courts to promulgate directives providing \uniform fee waiver request forms\ and a standard protocol. Admin. Off. of the Cts., Admin. Directive 03-17, (rev. Apr. 20, 2017). Plaintiff Tyree Deshawn Mims appealed from a July 19, 2023 Law Division order, which denied without prejudice his motion to proceed as indigent. The trial court found that plaintiff failed to provide the required documentation. On appeal, plaintiff contended his submitted documentation satisfied the eligibility requirements of 1:13-2(a), warranting a waiver of court fees in this action and in all future litigation. The court concluded the trial court properly denied plaintiff's motion because he failed to complete the uniform fee waiver forms and to submit the required supporting documentation establishing indigency.