Michael Siluk, Jr. v. Catherine Merwin

OPINION OF THE COURT

McKEE, Chief Judge.

We are asked to interpret provisions of the Prison Litigation Reform Act (“PLRA”) requiring federal prisons to withdraw certain amounts from prisoner trust accounts to pay court filing fees. *423Although the amount of money involved may seem insignificant, the issue is of the utmost importance because it impacts indigent prisoners’ access to the courts and it has resulted in a conflict among the Courts of Appeals.2

Under the PLRA,3 a prisoner who files a civil complaint or an appeal in the federal courts is required to pay the full amount of the filing fee…