Case ID: f-appx_272/html/0722-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "CARLOS F. LUCERO, Circuit Judge.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

David JACKSON, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Janice B. DAVIDSON, Chief Judge; Mary Mullarkey, Chief Judge, Defendants-Appellees; David Jackson, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Vera Jackson; Lawrence Bowling, DDA, individual, Arapahoe County Child Support Enforcement Agency; Michael Mullins, Judge, individual, 2d Judicial District Court, City and County of Denver Colorado; Elizabeth D. Leith, Magistrate, individual, 2d Judicial District Court, City and County of Denver Colorado; Brian Whitney, Judge, individual, 2d Judicial District Court, City and County of Denver Colorado; Sandra I. Rothenberg, Judge, individual, Court of Appeals, State of Colorado, Defendants-Appellees; David Jackson, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Vera Jackson, Defendant-Appellee.
    Nos. 07-1389, 07-1390, 07-1442.
    United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit.
    April 7, 2008.
    David Jackson, Boulder, CO, pro se.
    Before LUCERO, Circuit Judge, PORFILIO and BRORBY, Senior Circuit Judges.
   ORDER AND JUDGMENT

CARLOS F. LUCERO, Circuit Judge.

David Jackson, proceeding pro se, appeals the district court’s orders dismissing his claims in these three actions, denying his motion to reconsider, and denying his motions to proceed in forma pauperis. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and affirm.

In all three of these actions, Jackson alleged that a denial of due process occurred in his Denver District Court divorce proceedings. Jackson named as defendants in these actions various individuals including his ex-wife, several Colorado state-court judges and a magistrate judge, and a Colorado deputy district attorney. In each complaint, he alleged that the state trial court lacked jurisdiction in the divorce proceedings and that venue was improper. As relief in Nos. 07-1389 and 07-1390, he asked the federal district court to appoint an attorney to represent him and to enjoin the state court action. In No. 07-1442, Jackson asked for a declaratory judgment on the constitutionality of the state divorce decree.

In separate orders, the district court dismissed all three actions without prejudice. Concluding that the challenged state-court proceedings were likely final, the court held that it did not have jurisdiction over Jackson’s claims under the Rook-er-Feldman doctrine. See Rooker v. Fid. Trust Co., 263 U.S. 413, 44 S.Ct. 149, 68 L.Ed. 362 (1923); D.C. Ct.App. v. Feldman, 460 U.S. 462, 103 S.Ct. 1303, 75 L.Ed.2d 206 (1983). Alternatively, in the event that proceedings were not final, the district court abstained from exercising jurisdiction pursuant to Younger v. Harris, 401 U.S. 37, 91 S.Ct. 746, 27 L.Ed.2d 669 (1971). The district court also denied Jackson’s motion to reconsider in No. 07-1389. After Jackson filed timely notices of appeal, he asked the district court for leave to proceed in forma pauperis, which the court also denied.

On appeal, Jackson argues that the court misinterpreted his complaints. More specifically, he denies that he is seeking to modify any state-court judgment or order. He asserts instead that his complaints sought a declaratory judgment on the constitutionality of the state-court divorce decree.

We review de novo the district court’s dismissal of a complaint for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction under the Rooker-Feldman doctrine. Mann v. Boatright, 477 F.3d 1140, 1145 (10th Cir.2007). “The Rooker-Feldman doctrine prevents the lower federal courts from exercising jurisdiction over cases brought by state-court losers challenging state-court judgments rendered before the district court proceedings commenced.” Id. at 1146 (quotations omitted). A complaint seeking review and reversal of a state-court judgment is properly dismissed under Rooker-Feldman. See id. at 1147.

In Nos. 07-1389 and 07-1390, Jackson seeks to enjoin the enforcement of the state-court divorce decree entered on October 7,1987. This is precisely the type of claim encompassed by the Rooker-Feld-man doctrine. See id. (affirming dismissal of claim seeking permanent enjoinment of probate court orders). Moreover, “[federal district courts do not have jurisdiction over challenges to state-court decisions in particular cases arising out of judicial proceedings even if those challenges allege that the state court’s action was unconstitutional.” Van Sickle v. Holloway, 791 F.2d 1431, 1436 (10th Cir.1986) (quotation omitted). Thus, the district court also properly determined that it lacked jurisdiction to award the relief that Jackson asserts he was seeking in all three actions: a declaratory judgment on the constitutionality of the state court’s divorce decree.

We conclude that the district court properly dismissed Jackson’s complaints in these three actions for lack- of subject-matter jurisdiction under Rooker-Feldmau and did not err in denying his motion for reconsideration in No. 07-1389. Moreover, we agree with the district court that these appeals were not taken in good faith. See Rolland v. Primesource Staffing, L.L.C., 497 F.3d 1077, 1079 (10th Cir.2007) (denying motion for substantially the reasons stated by the district court). Jackson’s renewed motions to proceed in forma pauperis on appeal are therefore DENIED. He is required to immediately remit the full amount of the filing fees in each case.

The judgments of the district court in Nos. 07-1389, 07-1390, and 07-1442 are AFFIRMED. Jackson’s motion to enjoin certain state-court orders, filed in No. 07-1442, is DENIED. 
      
       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.
     
      
      . ‘'[T]he Rooker-Feldman doctrine is confined to cases brought after the state proceedings have ended." Mann, All F.3d at 1146 (quotation omitted). Jackson does not argue on appeal that the divorce decree he seeks to challenge is not a final judgment. Therefore, we do not address the district court's alternate basis for dismissal under Younger.