Case ID: f-appx_630/html/0646-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "PER CURIAM.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Vincent M. COOPER, Plaintiff-Appellant v. Carlton D. JONES, Prosecuting Attorney, Miller County, Defendant-Appellee.
    No. 15-2183.
    United States Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit.
    Submitted: Jan. 20, 2016.
    Filed: Jan. 26, 2016.
    
      Vincent M. Cooper, Ouachita River Correctional Unit, Malvern, AR, pro se.
    Jennifer L. Merritt, Attorney General’s Office, Little Rock, AR, for Defendant-Appellee.
    Before BENTON, BOWMAN, and KELLY, Circuit Judges.
    [Unpublished]
   PER CURIAM.

Vincent M. Cooper appeals after the district court dismissed his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 complaint and denied his motions for appointment of counsel and for leave to amend his complaint. Having jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291, this court affirms.

Cooper’s complaint sought po.stconviction access to DNA testing of certain evidence used at his criminal trial. Upon de novo review, this court concludes that the dismissal was proper. See Dist. Attorney’s Office for Third Judicial Dist. v. Osborne, 557 U.S. 52, 69, 72-75, 129 S.Ct. 2308, 174 L.Ed.2d 38 (2009) (discussing contours of substantive and procedural due process rights related to postconviction access to DNA testing); Schaaf v. Residential Funding Corp., 517 F.3d 544, 549 (8th Cir.2008) (grant of motion to dismiss is reviewed de novo). The district court did not abuse its discretion in denying Cooper’s motions. See Phillips v. Jasper Cty. Jail, 437 F.3d 791, 794 (8th Cir.2006) (abuse-of-discretion standard applies to denial of motion for appointment of counsel; discussing relevant factors); Joshi v. St. Luke’s Hosp., Inc., 441 F.3d 552, 555, 557-58 (8th Cir.2006) (abuse-of-discretion standard applies to denial of motion for leave to amend complaint; denial may be justified by futility of amendment).

The judgment of the district court is affirmed. See 8th Cir. R. 47B. 
      
      . The Honorable Susan O. Hickey, United States District Judge for the Western District of Arkansas.