Woodson v. McCollum

HARTZ, Circuit Judge.

Plaintiff Marcus Woodson is a prisoner of the State of Oklahoma. He sued several prison officials in Oklahoma state court, proceeding informa pauperis (IFP) under state law. The defendants removed the case to the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma. As required by federal statute, they paid the filing fee. See 28 U.S.C. § 1914(a) (“The parties instituting any civil action ... whether by original process, removal or otherwise” are required to pay the filing fee. (emphasis added)). The federal court, however, determined that Woodson, who had…