McCoy v. Short

Filing 15

ORDER adopting 11 Report and Recommendation. This action is dismissed without prejudice and without issuance and service of process. Signed by Honorable Joseph F Anderson, Jr on 9/23/2013.(abuc)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF SOUTH CAROLINA
Joe William McCoy,
Plaintiff,
vs.
Sentencing Judge Paul E. Short,
Defendant.
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C/A No. 0:13-1955-JFA-PJG

ORDER

The pro se plaintiff, Joe William McCoy, brings this pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983
contending that the defendant, Judge Paul E. Short, lacked jurisdiction to sentence him in his
state criminal proceedings. Plaintiff contends that he has been subjected to false arrest and
false imprisonment.
The Magistrate Judge assigned to this action1 has prepared a Report and
Recommendation and suggests that the complaint should be summarily dismissed. The
Report sets forth in detail the relevant facts and standards of law on this matter, and the court
incorporates such without a recitation.
The plaintiff was advised of his right to file objections to the Report and
Recommendation, which was entered on the docket on August 27, 2013. However, the

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The Magistrate Judge’s review is made in accordance with 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B) and Local Civil Rule
73.02. The Magistrate Judge makes only a recommendation to this court. The recommendation has no
presumptive weight, and the responsibility to make a final determination remains with the court. Mathews
v. Weber, 423 U.S. 261 (1976). The court is charged with making a de novo determination of those portions
of the Report and Recommendation to which specific objection is made, and the court may accept, reject,
or modify, in whole or in part, the recommendation of the Magistrate Judge, or recommit the matter to the
Magistrate Judge with instructions. See 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1).

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plaintiff did not file objections and the time within which to do so has now expired. In the
absence of specific objections to the Report of the Magistrate Judge, this court is not required
to give any explanation for adopting the recommendation. See Camby v. Davis, 718 F.2d
198, 199 (4th Cir. 1983).
As the Magistrate Judge properly opines, defendant Judge Short has absolute
immunity from a claim for damages arising out of his or her judicial actions. As such,
defendant Short is entitled to summary dismissal.
After a careful review of the record, the applicable law, and the Report and
Recommendation, the court adopts the Magistrate Judge’s recommendation proper and
incorporates the Report herein by reference.
Accordingly, this action is dismissed without prejudice and without issuance and
service of process.
IT IS SO ORDERED.

Joseph F. Anderson, Jr.
United States District Judge

September 23, 2013
Columbia, South Carolina

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