Prisoner ‘Three Strikes Rule’ Case Fails to Sway Justices (2)

The U.S. Supreme Court made it more difficult for prisoners to file suits without having to pay a $400 filing fee, a decision that could keep workloads from exploding at federal courts.

The justices on Monday unanimously upheld an appeals court decision, ruling against a Colorado inmate who challenged part of the “three strikes” criteria that courts use to deny prisoner suits filed at no cost disputing their conviction or sentence. The rule is meant to weed out frivolous cases.

The high court ruled that dismissals “without prejudice"—meaning litigants can try again—should be counted under the Prison Litigation Reform Act’s ...