Ballard v. Swales et al
Filing
16
MEMORANDUM OPINION: This cause is before the Court, sua sponte, for consideration of dismissal. A final judgment will be entered. Signed by District Judge Carlton W. Reeves on 4/28/2011. (JS)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF MISSISSIPPI
JACKSON DIVISION
DEON BALLARD, #144373
VERSUS
PLAINTIFF
CIVIL ACTION NO. 3:10-cv-604-CWR-LRA
RANKIN COUNTY, et al.
DEFENDANTS
MEMORANDUM OPINION
This cause is before the Court, sua sponte, for consideration of dismissal. Plaintiff, an
inmate of the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC), filed this pro se Complaint
pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983.1 The named Defendants are Rankin County, Mississippi; Larry
Swales, Chancery Court Clerk for Rankin County; and Carol B. Swilley, Circuit Court Clerk for
Rankin County. On December 9, 2010, the Court entered an Order [8] directing the Plaintiff to
file a written response to provide specific information regarding his claims. Plaintiff filed his
Response [11] on December 23, 2010. Upon review of the Plaintiff’s Complaint [1], Response
[11] and entire court record, the Court has reached the following conclusions.
I. Background
Plaintiff was convicted of armed robbery by the Rankin County Circuit Court on
November 17, 2008. As a result, Plaintiff was sentenced to serve twelve-years in the custody
of the Mississippi Department of Corrections. Plaintiff claims that pursuant to the Uniform
Rules of Circuit and County Court Practice for Mississippi, he is entitled to one free copy of his
entire state court record. Plaintiff complains that his efforts to obtain copies of his criminal case
record from the Circuit Court have either been ignored or denied. Plaintiff maintains that he is
1
Plaintiff was granted in forma pauperis status on December 9, 2010.
in need of these documents to pursue his post-conviction remedies, thus, the denial of these
documents violates his constitutional right of access to the courts.
Plaintiff also states that he was “denied complete and total access to the courts as a pretrial prisoner” because the Defendants’ alleged actions prohibited him from “filing [and] forming
a legal defense thr[ough]out his criminal appellate process.” Compl. [1] at 7; Mem. in Supp.
[10] at 1. As relief, Plaintiff states that he is requesting a “court order telling the [D]efendants
to hand over to the Plaintiff all of the prescribed documents he is legally entitled to have without
further delay or discrepancy.” Compl. [1] at 4. Plaintiff also seeks declaratory relief and
monetary damages. Id. at 9; Mot. [5] at 6.
II. Analysis
The Prison Litigation Reform Act, 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2) (as amended), applies to
prisoner proceedings in forma pauperis, and provides that “the court shall dismiss the case at
any time if the court determines that . . . (B) the action or appeal -- (i) is frivolous or malicious;
(ii) fails to state a claim on which relief may be granted; or (iii) seeks monetary relief against a
defendant who is immune from such relief.” An action is deemed frivolous under § 1915, if it
"lacks an arguable basis either in law or in fact." Gartrell v. Gaylor, 981 F.2d 254, 256 (5th Cir.
1993)(quoting Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 325 (1989)). In a prisoner case under § 1915,
the district court is "authorized to test the proceeding for frivolousness or maliciousness even
before service of process or before the filing of the answer." Ali v. Higgs, 892 F.2d 438, 440 (5th
Cir. 1990). Since Plaintiff was granted in forma pauperis status, § 1915(e)(2) applies to this
case.
2
Although prisoners have a constitutionally protected right of access to the courts, this
right does not encompass an entitlement to the relief requested by the Plaintiff. See Jones v.
Greninger, 188 F.3d 322, 325 (5th Cir. 1999)(an inmate’s right of access to the courts is not
unlimited). As the Fifth Circuit has repeatedly stated, a prisoner “does not have a federallyprotected right to a free copy of his transcript or other court records merely to search for possible
error in order to file a petition for collateral relief at some future date.” Wright v. Curry, 122
Fed. App’x 724, 725 (5th Cir. 2004)(citing Colbert v. Beto, 439 F.2d 1130, 1131 (5th Cir.
1971)); see also Deem v. Devasto, 140 Fed. App’x 574, 575 (5th Cir. 2005)(denial of state court
records in connection with habeas proceeding does not violate inmate's constitutional rights).
Furthermore, a pre-trial inmate does not have a constitutional right to obtain documents from his
criminal case or access a law library in order to prepare a defense to criminal charges. See
Bounds v. Smith, 430 U.S. 817, 828 (1977)(appointed counsel provides “adequate assistance
from persons trained in the law”); Degrate v. Godwin, 84 F.3d 768, 769 (5th Cir. 1996)(criminal
defendant proceeding pro se does not have a constitutional right to access a law library); see also
Caraballo v. Fed. Bureau of Prisons, 124 Fed. App’x 284, 285 (5th Cir. 2005)(inmate’s inability
to access a law library or otherwise assist his attorney during his direct appeal fails to state a
claim for relief under § 1983). Therefore, Plaintiff has not suffered a constitutional violation by
the Defendants’ alleged failure to provide him with access to the courts to prepare a criminal
defense or the Defendants’ failure to provide him with a copy of his entire state court record to
pursue his post-conviction remedies.
3
III. Conclusion
As discussed above, Plaintiff's claims are not cognizable under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
Accordingly, Plaintiff’s Complaint will be dismissed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915 (e)(2)(B)(i)
& (ii), as frivolous and for failure to state a claim, with prejudice. See Moreno v. Curry, 2007
WL 4467580, at *2 (5th Cir. Dec. 20, 2007)(affirmed frivolous and failure to state a claim
dismissal of § 1983 suit alleging inmate was denied a free copy of his trial record); see also
Deem, 140 Fed. App’x at 575 (dismissed appeal as frivolous of § 1983 suit alleging inmate was
denied a free copy of his trial record).
The dismissal of this case as frivolous and for failure to state a claim, means that it will
be counted as a “strike” under § 1915(g).2 Since Plaintiff obtained his third “strike” during the
pendency of this case, he cannot proceed in forma pauperis in any new civil actions or appeals
unless he is under imminent danger of serious physical injury.3
A Final Judgment in accordance with this Memorandum Opinion will be entered.
THIS the 28th day of April, 2011.
s/Carlton W. Reeves
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
2
“In no event shall a prisoner bring a civil action or appeal a judgment in a civil action or proceeding
under this section if the prisoner has, on 3 or more prior occasions, while incarcerated or detained in any
facility brought an action or appeal in a court of the United States that was dismissed on the grounds that
it is frivolous, malicious, or fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, unless the prisoner is
under imminent danger of serious physical injury.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g).
3
See Ballard v. Pierce, et al., No. 10-60276 (5th Cir. Nov. 22, 2010); Ballard v. Pierce, et al., No.
2.10cv1 (S.D. Miss. Mar. 4, 2010); Ballard v. Richland Police Dep’t., et al., No. 3:09cv234 (S.D. Miss.
Nov. 23, 2009).
4
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?