In Re Jonathan Wilson Fillbach

KLEINFELD, Circuit Judge:

This case is about whether a district court may dismiss a petition filed by a litigant in an effort to circumvent a vexatious litigant order entered against him in bankruptcy court.

I FACTS

Between December 1997 and August 1998, Fillbach filed for bankruptcy three times. His petition was dismissed each time for failing to comply with virtually all the required forms and orders of the bankruptcy court. During his third ease, Fill-bach filed numerous, meritless motions for sanctions against his creditors. On September 11, 1998, Fillbach filed his fourth bankruptcy…