Opinion
Civil Action No. 08-1392.
September 4, 2008
MEMORANDUM OPINION
This matter is before the Court on plaintiff's pro se complaint and application to proceed in forma pauperis. The Court will grant plaintiff's application and dismiss the complaint for lack of subject matter jurisdiction.
The subject matter jurisdiction of the federal district courts is limited and is set forth generally at 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 1332. Under those statutes, federal jurisdiction is available only when a "federal question" is presented or the parties are of diverse citizenship and the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000. A party seeking relief in the district court must at least plead facts that bring the suit within the court's jurisdiction. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 8(a). Failure to plead such facts warrants dismissal of the action. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(h)(3).
Plaintiff, an inmate in Louisville, Kentucky, sues a judge located there for $55,000. The complaint presents neither a federal question nor a basis for diversity jurisdiction inasmuch as both parties are from Kentucky and the amount in controversy is below $75,000. Accordingly, the complaint will be dismissed by separate Order issued contemporaneously.