Legal Opinion
Willis v. Federal Bureau of Investigation
Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit
Decided December 28, 2001No. 19-5094PublishedCited by 31 opinions
1Opinion of the Court
Opinion for the Court filed by Circuit Judge RANDOLPH.
RANDOLPH, Circuit Judge:
This case presents an issue of first impression for this circuit: what criteria should guide district courts in deciding motions for the appointment of counsel in cases brought under the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552 (“FOIA”)?
James A. Willis is serving time for drug offenses. He filed a FOIA action in 1996 seeking the release of numerous documents. The documents, he claims, will exonerate him. After bringing suit, Willis filed two motions for the appointment of counsel. FOIA does not contain a provision…
2Cases cited5 opinions
- Genus D. Ulmer v. George Chancellor, Sheriff, and Jones County Board of SupervisorsCourt of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit · 1982
- Dennis R. Cookish v. Michael Cunningham, Warden, New Hampshire State PrisonCourt of Appeals for the First Circuit · 1986
- Benjamin Luttrell v. Julie NickelCourt of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit · 1997
- Aljoe Poindexter v. Federal Bureau of InvestigationCourt of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit · 1984
- Royal Russell Long v. Duane ShillingerCourt of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit · 1991
3Cited by31 opinions
- Willis v. United States Department of JusticeDistrict Court, District of Columbia · 2008
- Brown v. Children's National Medical CenterDistrict Court, District of Columbia · 2011
- Gaviria, Humberto A. v. Reynolds, DonaldCourt of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit · 2007
- Pinson v. United States Department of JusticeDistrict Court, District of Columbia · 2017
- Pinson v. U.S. Department of JusticeDistrict Court, District of Columbia · 2014
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