Roop v. Itawamba County et al

Filing 54

ORDER denying 45 Motion for Immediate Release. Signed by Senior Judge Neal B. Biggers on 3/6/18. (jla)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF MISSISSIPPI
ABERDEEN DIVISION
MILFORD LEE ROOP

PLAINTIFF

v.

No. 1:17CV24-NBB-JMV

ITAWAMBA COUNTY
CHRIS DICKINSON
ITAWAMBA COUNTY JAIL JAILERS

DEFENDANTS

ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION [45]
FOR RELEASE FROM INCARCERATION
This matter comes before the court on the motion [45] by the plaintiff for release from
incarceration. This case is proceeding under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, which provides a federal cause of
action against “[e]very person” who under color of state authority causes the “deprivation of any
rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the Constitution and laws.” 42 U.S.C. § 1983. As
discussed below, however, a § 1983 case is not the appropriate vehicle to pursue release from
incarceration.
Heck
A § 1983 claim that calls into question the lawfulness of conviction or confinement or
otherwise demonstrates the invalidity of the conviction or confinement is not cognizable under § 1983
until such time as a § 1983 plaintiff is able to
prove that the conviction or sentence has been reversed on direct appeal, expunged by
executive order, declared invalid by a state tribunal authorized to make such
determination, or called into question by a federal court’s issuance of a writ of habeas
corpus, 28 U.S.C. § 2254. A claim for damages bearing that relationship to a
conviction or sentence that has not been so invalidated is not cognizable under § 1983.
Heck v. Humphrey, 114 S. Ct. at 2372; see also Boyd v. Biggers, 31 F.3d 279, 283 (5th Cir. 1994).
Only if the court finds that the plaintiff’s § 1983 suit, even if successful, “will not demonstrate the

invalidity of any outstanding criminal judgment against the plaintiff,” should the § 1983 action be
allowed to proceed. See Mackey v. Dickson, 47 F.3d 744, 746 (5th Cir. 1995).
In the case at hand, it is the court’s conclusion that plaintiff’s success in his request for release
would necessarily draw into question the validity of his conviction or sentence. Therefore, the plaintiff
must “demonstrate that the conviction or sentence has already been invalidated,” Heck, 114 S. Ct. at
2372, in order for the § 1983 cause of action to accrue. The plaintiff has made no such showing; as
such, the instant motion [45] for immediate release is DISMISSED.
SO ORDERED, this, the 6th day of March, 2018.

/Neal Biggers
NEAL B. BIGGERS
SENIOR U. S. DISTRICT JUDGE