Willett v. Illinois Department of Corrections et al
| Stephen Willett |
| Illinois Department of Corrections, East St. Louis Parole Office, Agent Paine, Agent Holloway, Agent Curtis and Lincoln Correctional Center |
| 3:2026cv00859 |
| June 17, 2026 |
| U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois |
| Staci M Yandle |
| Prisoner: Civil Rights |
| 42 U.S.C. § 1983 Prisoner Civil Rights |
| None |
Docket Report
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This docket was last retrieved on July 2, 2026. A more recent docket listing may be available from PACER.
| Document Text |
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| Filing 24 MOTION for Recruitment of Counsel by Stephen Willett. (jaj) |
| Filing 23 CONSENT/NON-CONSENT TO U.S. MAGISTRATE JUDGE - sealed pending receipt from all parties. (jdc) |
Filing 22
ORDER: Plaintiff's Motion for Recruitment of Counsel (Doc. #5 ) is DENIED. The Court generally will not consider recruiting counsel for a pro se plaintiff until the Court conducts a preliminary review of the Complaint under 28 U.S.C. 1915A, which requires the Court to screen prisoner Complaints to filter out nonmeritorious claims. 28 U.S.C. 1915A(a). Given the early stage of the litigation, it is difficult to accurately evaluate the need for assistance of counsel, so the recruitment of counsel would be premature. See Kadamovas v. Stevens, 706 F.3d 843, 845 (7th Cir. 2013) ("[U]ntil the defendants respond to the complaint, the plaintiff's need for assistance of counsel... cannot be gauged."). If Plaintiff's Complaint survives Section 1915A review, and he encounters difficulties in self-representation as this case proceeds, he may refile his motion seeking recruitment of counsel. If he chooses to renew his request, he should submit rejection letters from at least 3 attorneys to demonstrate that he has made reasonable efforts to obtain counsel on his own. Signed by Chief District Judge Staci M. Yandle on 6/23/2026. (jsy) THIS TEXT ENTRY IS AN ORDER OF THE COURT. NO FURTHER DOCUMENTATION WILL BE MAILED.
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| Filing 21 This Court has received your complaint from the Central District of Illinois, previously assigned case number: 26-3043. Your new case number is 26-859-SMY. The following is some information you should know regarding the initial stages of your lawsuit. The Court will now review your complaint to identify legally sufficient claims and defendants and dismiss any legally insufficient claims. See: 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1915A. The Court will conduct this review within the next 60 days and inform you of the findings in a Merit Review Order. No other action will be taken in your case during this time, absent extraordinary circumstances. Therefore, you do not need to submit any evidence, argument, motions, or other documents. If you filed a motion for recruitment of counsel along with your complaint, it will not be considered until the merit review is complete. Please note that any motion for recruitment of counsel must include evidence of your own efforts to find counsel, such as a list of the attorneys you contacted and copies of letters you sent or received. See Pruitt v. Mote, 503 F.3d 647, 654-55 (7th Cir. 2007). If you do not receive a Merit Review Order within the next 60 days, you may file a motion requesting the status of your case. In the event your claim(s) survive the merit review, further information and instruction will be provided to you at that time. In addition, several administrative matters warrant mention. Any communication directed to the Court should be in the form of a motion or other pleading and not a letter. All mail should be sent to: Clerk's Office, U.S. District Court, 750 Missouri Avenue, East St. Louis, IL 62201. Finally, you are advised that if your address changes, you must notify the Court within fourteen days of the change by filing a Notice of Change of Address. Failure to do so could result in the dismissal of your case. Signed by Chief District Judge Staci M. Yandle on 6/17/2026. (jaj) |
| Filing 20 NOTICE FROM CLERK Instructing Plaintiff to file Notice and Consent to Proceed Before A Magistrate Judge Jurisdiction Form: Pursuant to Administrative Order No. 428, within 21 days of this Notice, you must file the attached form indicating your consent to proceed before a Magistrate Judge or an affirmative declination to consent. Consent/Non-Consent to U.S. Magistrate Judge Jurisdiction form sent to Plaintiff on 6/17/2026. Consent due by 7/8/2026 (jaj) |
| Filing 19 Case transferred in from District of Illinois Central; Case Number 3:26-cv-03043. Original file certified copy of transfer order and docket sheet received. |
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Filing 18
ORDER transferring case to the Southern District of Illinois. Entered by District Judge Sara Darrow on 6/16/2026. SEE WRITTEN ORDER.(SAG) [Transferred from Illinois Central on 6/17/2026.]
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| Filing 17 NOTICE of Change of Address by Stephen Willett. (BMG) [Transferred from Illinois Central on 6/17/2026.] |
| Filing 16 Exhibits re #5 MOTION to Request Counsel by Stephen Willett. (BMG) [Transferred from Illinois Central on 6/17/2026.] |
| Filing 15 Exhibit re #1 Complaint by Stephen Willett. (Attachments: #1 Envelopes)(BMG) [Transferred from Illinois Central on 6/17/2026.] |
| Filing 14 Letter from Pro Se Plaintiff Stephen Willett requesting docket sheet. (RAH) [Transferred from Illinois Central on 6/17/2026.] |
| Filing 13 NOTICE of Change of Address by Stephen Willett. (RAH) [Transferred from Illinois Central on 6/17/2026.] |
| Remark: Pursuant to request, docket sheet mailed to Stephen Willett at Vandalia CC. (RAH) [Transferred from Illinois Central on 6/17/2026.] |
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TEXT ORDER granting #12 Petition to Proceed In Forma Pauperis. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. Section 1915(b)(1), Plaintiff is assessed an initial partial filing fee of $16.13. The agency having custody of Plaintiff is directed to forward the initial partial filing fee from Plaintiff's account to the Clerk of Court within 30 days of this order. After payment of the initial partial filing fee (or immediately if no funds are available for that payment) the agency having custody of Plaintiff shall make monthly payments of 20 percent of the preceding month's income credited to Plaintiff's account to the Clerk of Court. Income includes all deposits from any source, including gifts. The agency having custody of the plaintiff shall forward these payments each time Plaintiff's account exceeds $10, until the filing fee of $350 is paid in full. The Clerk is directed to mail a copy of this order to Plaintiff's place of confinement, to the attention of the Trust Fund Office, and to Plaintiff. Prisoner Prepayment due by 4/1/2026. Plaintiff's two prior IFP petitions are MOOT #6 , #9 . Entered by Chief Judge Sara Darrow on 3/2/2026. (SAG) [Transferred from Illinois Central on 6/17/2026.]
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| Filing 12 PETITION TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS, filed by Stephen Willett. (Attachments: #1 Letter, #2 Envelope) (RAH) [Transferred from Illinois Central on 6/17/2026.] |
| Filing 11 Exhibit re #5 MOTION to Request Counsel by Stephen Willett. (RAH) [Transferred from Illinois Central on 6/17/2026.] |
| Filing 10 +++ PRISONER TRUST FUND LEDGER by Stephen Willett. (RAH) [Transferred from Illinois Central on 6/17/2026.] |
| Filing 9 PETITION TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS, filed by Stephen Willett. (RAH) [Transferred from Illinois Central on 6/17/2026.] |
| Filing 8 Exhibits re #1 Complaint by Stephen Willett. (RAH) [Transferred from Illinois Central on 6/17/2026.] |
| Filing 7 +++ PRISONER TRUST FUND LEDGER by Stephen Willett. (RAH) [Transferred from Illinois Central on 6/17/2026.] |
| Filing 6 PETITION TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS, filed by Stephen Willett. (RAH) [Transferred from Illinois Central on 6/17/2026.] |
| Filing 5 MOTION to Request Counsel by Plaintiff Stephen Willett. Responses due by 2/19/2026 (SAG) [Transferred from Illinois Central on 6/17/2026.] |
| Filing 4 +++ PRISONER TRUST FUND LEDGER by Stephen Willett (SAG) [Transferred from Illinois Central on 6/17/2026.] |
| Filing 3 PETITION TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS, filed by Stephen Willett.(SAG) [Transferred from Illinois Central on 6/17/2026.] |
| Filing 2 NOTICE OF CASE OPENING. Please be advised that your case has been assigned to Chief Judge Sara Darrow. Effective immediately, all documents should be mailed or scanned to the Rock Island Division, 1701 4th Avenue, Rock Island, IL 61201.Merit Review Deadline set for 2/25/2026. (Attachments: #1 Notice Regarding Privacy Issues)(SAG) [Transferred from Illinois Central on 6/17/2026.] |
| Filing 1 COMPLAINT against All Defendants, filed by Stephen Willett.(SAG) [Transferred from Illinois Central on 6/17/2026.] |
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TEXT ORDER entered by Chief Judge Sara Darrow on 2/5/2026. Plaintiff has filed a Petition to Proceed in Forma Pauperis #3 that is insufficient as it is missing the second page. It is, therefore, denied with leave to renew. Plaintiff is directed to file a petition to proceed in forma pauperis setting forth his income, assets, and expenses on or before 2/19/2026. If Plaintiff fails to either pay the $405 filing fee or renew his IFP petition on or before 2/19/2026, his case will be dismissed. The Clerk is to provide Plaintiff with an IFP form to assist him. (SAG) [Transferred from Illinois Central on 6/17/2026.]
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