Background
David Holmes appealed from a proceeding in the Delaware Superior Court. On August 20, 2026, the Delaware Supreme Court’s Chief Deputy Clerk sent Holmes a certified notice directing him to show cause why the appeal should not be dismissed because he had neither paid the filing fee nor moved to proceed in forma pauperis.
Postal records showed that the notice was delivered by August 26. Holmes’s response was due September 8, but he did not respond, pay the fee, or submit an in forma pauperis motion.
The Court’s Holding
The Delaware Supreme Court dismissed Holmes’s appeal under Supreme Court Rules 3(b)(2) and 29(b). Because Holmes did not respond to the show-cause notice, the court deemed dismissal unopposed.
The order did not address the merits of Holmes’s underlying criminal case. Its disposition rested solely on his failure to satisfy the filing-fee requirement or request permission to proceed without paying it.
Key Takeaways
- An appellant must timely pay the required filing fee or seek leave to proceed in forma pauperis.
- Failure to respond to a show-cause notice may cause dismissal to be treated as unopposed.
- The court dismissed the appeal on procedural grounds without reaching its merits.
Why It Matters
The order underscores that compliance with basic appellate filing requirements is necessary to keep an appeal pending. An appellant who cannot afford the filing fee must timely request in forma pauperis status rather than leave the requirement unresolved.