Grethen v. Robinson

OPINION BY JUSTICE STEPHEN R. McCULLOUGH

Mark A. Grethen, an inmate, challenges the trial court's determination that he could not proceed in forma pauperis with his petition for a writ of mandamus. We conclude that he should have been afforded in forma pauperis status under Code § 8.01-691 and, accordingly, we will reverse the trial court's judgment.

BACKGROUND

Grethen is an inmate in the Virginia Department of Corrections ("the Department")-as well as a prolific litigator. On June 23, 2016, he filed a petition for a writ of mandamus in the Circuit Court for the City of Chesapeake, complaining…