Godfrey v. U.S. District Court

Filing 5

ORDER ADOPTING FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 3 in full. A certificate of appealability is DENIED. Signed by Judge Dana L. Christensen on 11/16/2017. Mailed to Godfrey. (TAG)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF MONTANA
MISSOULA DIVISION

TRACEY R. GODFREY,

CV 17-131-M-DLC-JCL

Petitioner,
ORDER
vs.
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT,
Respondent.

United States Magistrate Judge Jeremiah C. Lynch entered his Order and
Findings and Recommendations in this case on September 21, 2017,
recommending that this matter be dismissed for lack of subject matter jurisdiction.
(Doc. 3 at 4.) Plaintiff Tracey R. Godfrey ("Godfrey") timely filed objections to
the Findings and Recommendations. (Doc. 4.) Consequently, Godfrey is entitled
to a de novo review of those findings and recommendations to which he
specifically objects. 28 U.S.C. § 636(b )(1 )(C). This Court reviews for clear error
those findings and recommendations to which no party objects. See McDonnell

Douglas Corp. v. Commodore Bus. Mach., Inc., 656 F.2d 1309, 1313 (9th Cir.
1981); Thomas v. Arn, 474 U.S. 140, 149 (1985). Clear error exists ifthe Court is

-1-

left with a "definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been committed."

United States v. Syrax, 235 F.3d 422, 427 (9th Cir. 2000) (citations omitted).
Judge Lynch concluded, and this Court agrees, that dismissal is appropriate
because the federal mandamus statute applies only to federal officers and
employees. (Doc. 3 at 3.) Consequently, Godfrey cannot obtain a federal writ of
mandamus to compel state prosecutors or officials to produce the requested
documents. Godfrey's objection fails to present any new evidence or law and,
instead, reiterates his claim that the federal mandamus statute is applicable to the
State of Montana because Montana is "an agency of the United States." (Doc. 4 at
1.) Godfrey's unsupported and meritless argument fails to reference Judge
Lynch's Findings and Recommendations, which flatly and correctly rejects this
argument. (Doc. 3 at 3 (quoting Demos v. US. District Court, 925 F.2d 1160,
1161-62 (9th Cir. 1991).) Having failed to specifically object to any of Judge
Lynch's Finding and Recommendations, this Court reviews the record for clear
error. See McDonnell Douglas Corp., 656 F.2d at 1313. Finding none,
IT IS ORDERED that Judge Lynch's Findings and Recommendations (Doc.
3) are ADOPTED IN FULL. Godfrey's Petition (Doc. 1) is DISMISSED for lack
of subject matter jurisdiction.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk of Court will enter by separate
-2-

document a judgment in favor of Respondents and against Petitioner.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that a certificate of appealability is DENIED.
DATED this

~day of November, 2017.

Dana L. Christensen, Chief Judge
United States District Court

-3-