Livingston et al v. Hansen et al
Filing
9
MEMORANDUM DECISION granting 2 Motion to Dismiss with Prejudice. Case Closed. Signed by Judge Dale A. Kimball on 10/31/13. (jlw)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF UTAH
CENTRAL DIVISION
DALE A. LIVINGSTON, et. al,
Plaintiffs,
MEMORANDUM DECISION
AND ORDER
v.
Case No. 2:13CV783DAK
ROYAL HANSEN, et al.,
Judge Dale A. Kimball
Defendants.
This court issued an Order to Show Cause on October 9, 2013, directing Plaintiffs to
show good cause for not responding to Defendant Royal Hansen and W. Brent West’s Motion to
Dismiss. The Motion to Dismiss was filed on September 5, 2003. According to the court’s local
rules, an opposition to a motion to dismiss is due twenty-eight days after service of the motion.
DUCivR 7-1(b)(3)(A). Computing the time according to Rule 6 of the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure and allowing three days for receipt by mailing, Plaintiffs’ memorandum in opposition
to Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss was due on October 7, 2013. As of the date of this Order,
however, Plaintiffs have not responded to Defendants’ motion. Plaintiffs have also failed to
respond to this court’s Order to Show Cause. Plaintiffs’ response to the Order to Show Cause
was due a week ago. Under the court’s local rules, failure to respond timely to a motion may
result in the court’s granting of the motion without further notice. DUCivR 7-1(d).
Moreover, the court has reviewed Defendants’ motion and concludes that Plaintiffs’
Complaint has no merit. Plaintiffs have not stated any law that permits this federal court to issue
a writ against state court officials based on any of the facts at issue in this case. Plaintiffs claims
relate to the assignment of cases to particular judges in the state judicial system. In Knox v.
Bland, 632 F.3d 1290, 1292 (10th Cir. 2011), the court stated that “we have no authority to issue .
. . a writ to direct state courts or their judicial officers in the performance of their duties.” This
court does not have jurisdiction to issue extraordinary relief against state court or their officers.
In addition, the defendants in this case a state court judges who are entitled to absolute
judicial immunity because the allegations relate to actions taken in their judicial capacity. See
Christensen v. Ward, 916 F.2d 1462, 1473 (10th Cir. 1990)(“[J]udges are absolutely immune
from suit on any claim based on the conduct of their office including allegations that a decision is
erroneous, malicious, or in excess of their judicial authority.”).
Finally, the claims are barred under the Younger abstention doctrine which prohibits
federal courts from assuming jurisdiction over a state matter when there is an ongoing state
proceeding, the state court offers an afequate forum, and the state proceeding involves important
state interests. See Taylor v. Jaquez, 126 F.3d 1294, 1297 (10th Cir. 1997). The state court
proceeding at issue in this case is ongoing and in its early stages. The state district and appellate
courts provide an adequate forum to raise the issue regarding judicial assignment, and the judicial
assignment issue is best left to the state courts.
Accordingly, the court grants Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss and dismisses Plaintiffs’
Complaint with prejudice.
DATED this 31st day of October, 2013.
BY THE COURT:
________________________________________
DALE A. KIMBALL
United States District Judge
2
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?