Angelo v. Clerk of District Court Madison County

Filing 5

ORDER re 1 MOTION for Leave to Proceed in forma pauperis filed by Duane Angelo Burchill, Motions terminated: 1 MOTION for Leave to Proceed in forma pauperis filed by Duane Angelo Burchill., FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS re 2 Complaint IFP/Prisoner filed by Duane Angelo Burchill. () Signed by Magistrate Judge Jeremiah C. Lynch on 8/31/2017. (TCL) Modified on 8/31/2017: mailed to Burchill (TAG).

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF MONTANA
BUTTE DIVISION
DUANE ANGELO BURCHILL,

CV 17-37-BU-BMM-JCL

Plaintiff,
ORDER, and FINDINGS
AND RECOMMENDATION

vs.

CLERK OF DISTRICT COURT,
MADISON COUNTY,
Defendant.

I.

Introduction
Presently before the Court is Plaintiff Duane Angelo Burchill’s motion

requesting leave to prosecute this action in forma pauperis under 28 U.S.C. §
1915(a). Because Burchill has made the requisite showing, his motion for leave to
proceed in forma pauperis is properly granted. IT IS SO ORDERED.
At this juncture, the Court is obligated to examine Burchill’s complaint to
determine whether the Court should exercise jurisdiction over the subject matter of
Burchill’s claim.
II.

Background
Burchill, appearing pro se, brings this action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983

seeking monetary compensation from the Defendant Karen J. Miller, Clerk of the
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Montana Fifth Judicial District Court, Madison County.1 Burchill alleges, in
essence, that Miller deprived him of his constitutional right to conduct his own
defense in criminal proceedings against him. Specifically, Burchill states that
Clerk Miller (or presumably her deputy) refused to file certain motions in the
criminal proceedings presented by Burchill pro se. Burchill acknowledges Clerk
Miller advised him that he had a court-appointed attorney assigned to represent
him, and could not file motions on his own behalf unless he signed a waiver of
counsel – which he apparently did not do. At bottom, Burchill contends Clerk
Miller violated his right to self representation by not unconditionally allowing him
to file his motions pro se.
III.

Analysis
The Younger abstention doctrine – named after the case of Younger v.

Harris, 401 U.S. 37 (1971) – generally prohibits federal courts from granting
relief in a federal suit that would interfere with pending state criminal proceedings.
Younger abstention “contemplates the outright dismissal of the federal suit, and
the presentation of all claims, both state and federal, to the state courts.” Gibson v.
Berryhill, 411 U.S. 564, 577 (1973). Because Burchill’s suit would directly
interfere with the ongoing state criminal proceeding, this Court must decline to
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The Court takes judicial notice of the fact that Ms. Miller was the Clerk of
Court at the time relevant to Burchill’s complaint.
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exercise jurisdiction.2
The Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees a
criminal defendant the “right to a fair and reliable trial.” United States v. Erskine,
355 F.3d 1161, 1167 (9th Cir. 2004). The Sixth Amendment, in turn, “guarantees a
defendant a right to counsel but also allows him to waive this right and to
represent himself without counsel.” Id. (emphasis in original) (citing Faretta v.
California, 422 U.S. 806, 820 (1975)). To alleviate the tension that exists between
the paramount objective of a fair trial and a defendant’s right to conduct his own
defense, a trial court is cast in the primary role of insuring that a so-called Faretta
waiver is knowing and intelligent. Erskine, 355 F.3d at 1167.
The fact the state district court has implemented a policy that precludes a
defendant represented by court-appointed counsel from filing motions pro se does
not constitute a per se violation of the right to self-representation as contended by
Burchill. Rather, a fair assessment of the policy leads to the conclusion that it is
designed to insure the presiding trial judge undertakes to satisfy the “fundamental
obligation” imposed upon him by Faretta. See United States v. Hernandez, 203
F.3d 614, 625 n.16 (9th Cir. 2000), overruled on other grounds by Indiana v.
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The Court takes judicial notice of the criminal proceeding against Burchill
– State of Montana v. Duane Angelo Burchill, Cause No. DC-29-2017-0000011,
Montana Fifth Judicial District Court, Madison County. Review of the record in
that case reflects the case remains pending.
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Edwards, 554 U.S. 164 (2008).
It is important to note the record in Burchill’s state criminal case reflects the
trial court ultimately granted Burchill’s request to conduct his own defense.
IV.

Conclusion
For the reasons discussed, IT IS RECOMMENDED that this action be

dismissed in accordance with the directive of Younger v. Harris.
IT IS FURTHER RECOMMENDED
1. The Clerk of Court should be directed to close this matter and enter
judgment pursuant to Rule 58 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
2. The Clerk of Court should be directed to have the docket reflect that the
Court certifies pursuant to Rule 24(a)(3)(A) of the Federal Rules of Appellate
Procedure that any appeal of this decision would not be taken in good faith. The
record makes plain the Court should abstain from exercising jurisdiction over the
subject matter of Burchill’s Complaint.
NOTICE OF RIGHT TO OBJECT TO FINDINGS &
RECOMMENDATIONS,
AND CONSEQUENCES OF FAILURE TO OBJECT
Burchill may file objections to these Findings and Recommendations within
fourteen (14) days after service (mailing) hereof.3 Failure to timely file written
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Rule 6(d) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides that “[w]hen a
party may or must act within a specified time after being served and service is
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objections may bar a de novo determination by the district judge and/or waive the
right to appeal.
This order is not immediately appealable to the Ninth Circuit Court of
Appeals. Any notice of appeal pursuant to Fed. R. App. P. 4(a), should not be
filed until entry of the District Court’s final judgment.
DATED this 31st day of August, 2017.

Jeremiah C. Lynch
United States Magistrate Judge

made under Rule 5(b)(2)(C) (mail) . . . 3 days are added after the period would
otherwise expire under Rule 6(a).” Therefore, since Burchill is being served by
mail, he is entitled to an additional three (3) days after the period would otherwise
expire. 28 U.S.C. § 636.
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