According to the "Chief Justice's Year-End Reports on the Federal Judiciary" for 2009, approximately 80% of petitions for writ of certiorari also file a motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis. Only 20% of the cases are filed in the Supreme Court's paid docket.

2008 Petitions:

6,142 in forma pauperis docket (79.4%)

1,596 paid docket (20.6)

7,738 total 2008

2007 Petitions:

6,527 in forma pauperis docket (80.4%)

1,614 paid docket (19.6%)

8,241 total 2007

Approximately 50% of the petitions granted cert originate in the in forma pauperis docket; however, since the pool of cases for that docket it much larger than for the paid docket, paid cases are statistically more likely to be accepted on appeal.

A motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis (Latin: in the form of a pauper) is notice to the court that the petitioner has limited funds and is asking the justices to use their discretion to reduce the financial demands on the party by waiving docketing fees, requiring fewer copies of briefs, etc.

In other words, it is a petition filed by a poor person to proceed to court without any extra court fees such as filing fees, etc.