certificate of good faith
certificate of good faith. In a case in which a party has been allowed to proceed in a United States District Court in forma pauperis, a document issued by the court attesting that an appeal by the party would not be frivolous, so the party should not be required to pay costs or security. • District judges occasionally issue certificates of good faith even though they are never required: a party is allowed to appeal in forma pauperis unless the court issues a certificate of bad faith. 28 USCA § 1915(a)(3). Cf. CERTIFICATE OF BAD FAITH.