Opinion
No. 11-1224 D.C. No. 1:11-CV-00771-LTB
08-11-2011
GARY WAYNE MCGREGOR, Plaintiff - Appellant, v. DONNA THURLOW, in her individual and official capacity as Colorado Department of Corrections Time and Computational Supervisor; CATHERINE MOSCHETTI, in her individual and official capacity as a Colorado Department of Corrections Time and Compuational Employee; DAVID MICHAUD, in his individual and official capacity as the Administrative Head of the Colorado State Board of Parole; BECKY LUCERO, in her individual and official capacity as the Administrative Head of the Colorado State Board of Parole; KENNETH WILLIAMS, in his individual and official capacity as a Colorado Department of Corrections Employee; RICHARD ROBERTS, in his individual and official capacity as a Colorado Department of Corrections Employee; HAROLD BONHAM, in his individual and official capacity as a Corrections Corporation of America Employee; BRIDGETTE TORRES, in her individual and official capacity as a Corrections Corporation of America Employee; RICHARD SMELSER, in his individual and official capacity as a Corrections Corporation of America Employee, Defendants - Appellees.
ORDER AND JUDGMENT
After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist the determination of this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). The case is therefore ordered submitted without oral argument. This order and judgment is not binding precedent except under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. It may be cited, however, for its persuasive value consistent with Fed. R. App. P. 32.1 and 10th Cir. R. 32.1.
Before KELLY, HARTZ, and HOLMES, Circuit Judges.
Gary Wayne McGregor, a Colorado inmate proceeding pro se, appeals the dismissal of his civil-rights claims brought under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. He contends that he has been entitled to mandatory parole for more than four years and that his continued incarceration violates his federal constitutional rights to due process and freedom from cruel and unusual punishment. He seeks immediate release as well as compensatory and punitive damages. The United States District Court for the District of Colorado ruled that Mr. McGregor's claims are legally frivolous because his contentions regarding mandatory parole had already been rejected in his earlier habeas proceeding under 28 U.S.C. § 2241. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and affirm.
On March 6, 1986, Mr. McGregor was sentenced to (a) concurrent 16-year sentences on one count of attempted murder in the second degree and one count of first-degree assault; (b) a consecutive 24-year sentence on a count of first-degree sexual assault; and (c) a consecutive 16-year sentence on a count of aggravated robbery, for a total incarceration of 56 years. His crimes had been committed on April 23, 1985.
On appeal Mr. McGregor asserts that prison authorities repeatedly told him how his release date would be calculated and contends that the calculated date is now long past. Also, he interprets Colorado statutes as setting a mandatory release date that has expired.
To be sure, if Mr. McGregor is being incarcerated after he should have been released under Colorado law, then his confinement violates his right to due process, and it may also constitute cruel and unusual punishment. But the determining issue is what state law requires. And on that issue the state courts have the last word. "[S]tate courts are the ultimate expositors of state law." Mullaney v. Wilbur, 421 U.S. 684, 691 (1975); see Winters v. New York, 333 U.S. 507, 514 (1948) ("The interpretation [of the New York statute] by the [New York] Court of Appeals puts these words in the statute as definitely as if it had been so amended by the legislature."). In November 2009, Mr. McGregor filed an application for habeas corpus in state court raising essentially the same arguments he now makes. The state district court rejected his arguments in an order dated November 24, 2009; and the Colorado Supreme Court affirmed on May 7, 2010. Because the Colorado courts have spoken on the specific issues before us, we must follow their reading of Colorado law.
Accordingly Mr. McGregor's claims lack merit.
III. CONCLUSION
We AFFIRM the district court's dismissal. Both the district court's denial of Mr. McGregor's motion and our affirmance of that denial COUNT AS STRIKES for purposes of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). We DENY Mr. McGregor's motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis.
ENTERED FOR THE COURT
Harris L Hartz
Circuit Judge