(See 28 U.S.C. § 1331; 28 U.S.C. § 2671-2680; 42 U.S.C. § 1983; 28 U.S.C.
§§ 1915, 2241, 2254, 2255; Fed. R. Civ. P. 1-15; Rules Governing Section 2254
Cases in the United States District Courts; Rules Governing Section 2255
Cases in the United States District Courts)
(a) Forms Available
(1) Civil Complaints and Habeas Corpus Pleadings
(A) Prisoners who wish to file a civil complaint under 42 U.S.C.
§ 1983, a Bivens action under 28 U.S.C. § 1331, a Federal Tort
Claims Act action under 28 U.S.C. §§ 2671-2680, an
application for writ of habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2241,
a petition under 28 U.S.C. § 2254, or a motion under 28 U.S.C.
§ 2255 may obtain forms and instructions by sending a
written request to the Clerk of Court or accessing the forms
on the Court’s website.
(B) Prisoners who wish to file a civil complaint are referred to
the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure generally and, in
particular, Rules 1 through 15.
(C) Prisoners who wish to file a petition under 28 U.S.C. § 2254
or a motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 are referred to the Rules
Governing Section 2254 Cases in the United States District
Courts and the Rules Governing Section 2255 Cases in the
United States District Courts, respectively. The Court
strongly urges plaintiffs to use the Court’s form available on
the Court’s website or through a written request to the Clerk
of Court.
(D) Any pleading challenging the constitutionality of a federal
or state statute must be accompanied by a notice of the
constitutional question and otherwise comply with Fed. R.
Civ. P. 5.1 and SDIL-LR 24.1.
(2) In Forma Pauperis
(A) Prisoners who wish to proceed in forma pauperis – without
prepayment of fees – may obtain forms and instructions by
sending a written request to the Clerk of Court or by
accessing the forms on the Court’s website. For further
information regarding in forma pauperis status, see 28 U.S.C.
Page 16 of 65
§ 1915 and SDIL-LR 3.1.
(B) Unless already included in the complaint or petition, any
prisoner seeking to proceed in forma pauperis must provide a
complete list of all lawsuits the prisoner has filed in state or
federal court while serving a term of imprisonment,
including previous terms of imprisonment. Failure to do so
may result in sanctions, including, but not limited to,
dismissal of the action.
(b) General Pleading Requirements
(1) A complaint, petition, or motion filed by a prisoner shall be in
writing (typed or legibly written) and signed. If using the Court’s
pleading forms, attach extra pages as necessary, rather than using
smaller print or writing in the margins. A defective or illegible
pleading may be stricken or returned.
(c) Court Addresses
(1) Clerk of Court
750 Missouri Avenue
East St. Louis, Illinois 62201
(618) 482-9371
(2) Clerk of Court
301 West Main Street
Benton, Illinois 62812
(618) 439-7760
(3) https://www.ilsd.uscourts.gov/
