
    Estaban S. MACIEL, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. V. FELKINS, Physician’s Assistant, Connelly Unit, Defendant-Appellee.
    No. 03-50173.
    Summary Calendar
    United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
    Oct. 15, 2003.
    Estaban S. Maciel, Kenedy, TX, pro se.
    Jacqueline Lee Haney, Assistant Attorney General, Jennette Elizabeth DePonte, Assistant Attorney General, Office of the Attorney General for the State of Texas, Austin, TX, for Defendant-Appellee.
    Before HIGGINBOTHAM, DAVIS and PRADO, Circuit Judges.
   PER CURIAM.

Estaban S. Maciel, Texas prisoner # 773891, challenges the district court’s denial of his application to proceed in for-ma pauperis (“IFP”) on appeal. The district court had dismissed Maciel’s 42 U.S.C. § 1983 lawsuit because he had failed to exhaust his administrative remedies. By moving to proceed IFP on appeal, Maciel is challenging the district court’s certification that he should not be granted IFP status because his appeal is not taken in good faith. See Baugh v. Taylor, 117 F.3d 197, 202 (5th Cir.1997); 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3); Fed. R.App. P. 24(a).

Maciel asserts that he was not required to exhaust his administrative remedies before filing a civil rights action for a variety of reasons. Exhaustion of prison grievance procedures is mandatory. See 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(a); Porter v. Nussle, 534 U.S. 516, 524, 122 S.Ct. 983, 152 L.Ed.2d 12 (2002).

Maciel has failed to show that his complaint presented a non-frivolous issue for appeal. Accordingly, we uphold the district court’s order certifying that the appeal is not taken in good faith. Maciel’s request for IFP status is DENIED, and his appeal is DISMISSED as frivolous. See Baugh, 117 F.3d at 202 & n. 24; 5th Cir. R. 42.2. Maciel’s motion for appointment of appellate counsel is DENIED.

MOTIONS DENIED; APPEAL DISMISSED AS FRIVOLOUS. 
      
       Pursuant to 5th Cir. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cir. R. 47.5.4.
     