UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN
IN RE: APPLICATION FOR EXEMPTION Administrative Order
FROM THE ELECTRONIC PUBLIC No. 24-MS-014
ACCESS FEES BY JOHN BENSON
/
This matter is before the Court upon the application and request by John Benson for
exemption from the fees imposed by the Electronic Public Access fee schedule adopted by the
Judicial Conference of the United States Courts.
The Court finds that John Benson, a graduate student associated with the University of
St. Andrews, School of International Relations in the U.K., falls within the class of users listed in
the fee schedule as being eligible for a fee exemption. Additionally, Benson has demonstrated
that an exemption is necessary in order to avoid unreasonable burdens and to promote public
access to information.
Accordingly, Benson shall be exempt from the payment of fees for access via PACER to
the electronic case files maintained in this Court, to the extent such use is incurred in the course
of researching cases associated with right-wing terrorism in the United States from January 1,
2020 to December 31, 2023.
Benson shall not be exempt from the payment of fees incurred in connection with other
uses of the PACER system in this Court. Additionally, the following limitations apply:
1. This fee exemption applies only to John Benson (PACER Account #7860487), and
is valid only for the purposes stated above;
2. This fee exemption applies only to the electronic case files of this Court that are
available through the PACER system;
3. By accepting this exemption, Benson agrees not to sell for profit any data obtained
as a result of receiving this exemption;
4. Benson is prohibited from transferring any data obtained as a result of receiving
this exemption, including redistribution via internet-based databases;
5. This exemption is valid from February 21, 2024, through April 15, 2024.
This Order may be revoked at the discretion of the Court at any time. A copy of this Order
shall be sent to the PACER Service Center.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
FOR THE COURT:
Dated: February 27, 2024
HALA Y. JARBOU
CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
2
