Opinion
Case: 1:16-cv-00166
01-28-2016
Saleem El-Amin, Plaintiff, v. Judge William Jackson et al., Defendants.
Assigned To : Unassigned
Assign. Date: 2/2/2016
Description: Pro Se Gen. Civil
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Plaintiff, a federal prisoner proceeding pro se, has submitted a Complaint and an application to proceed in forma pauperis. The application will be granted and the complaint will be dismissed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915A (requiring dismissal of a prisoner's case upon a determination that the complaint fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted).
Plaintiff is incarcerated at the United States Penitentiary in Inez, Kentucky. He sues his sentencing judge, William Jackson of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, and an individual, Christopher Bruckmann, who shares an address with the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia. See Compl. Caption. Plaintiff alleges that Judge Jackson violated his due process rights by depriving him of a jury trial. He alleges that Bruckmann violated the Constitution "when he forced an upward departure with his memorandum," apparently with respect to a sentence recommendation. Compl. at 3. Plaintiff seeks $1 million in money damages from Judge Jackson and $300,000 in money damages from Bruckmann.
Because plaintiff's success would necessarily invalidate his sentence, this claim is not "cognizable unless and until he meets the requirements of Heck" by having the sentence invalidated via direct appeal or habeas corpus, or declared void by an authorized tribunal. Harris v. Fulwood, 611 Fed. App'x 1, 2 (D.C. Cir. 2015) (citing Heck v. Humphrey, 512 U.S. 477, 486-87 (1994)); see also id., quoting Wilkinson v. Dotson, 544 U.S. 74, 81-82 (2005) ("Heck applies 'no matter the relief sought (damages or equitable relief) . . . if success in [the] action would necessarily demonstrate the invalidity of confinement or its duration"). Nothing in the complaint suggests that plaintiff's sentence has been invalidated. Consequently, this action will be dismissed without prejudice for failure to state a claim. A separate order accompanies this Memorandum Opinion.
/s/_________
United States District Judge Date: January 28, 2016