Case ID: f-appx_160/html/0249-01.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

Kevin E. ALEXANDER, Appellant v. NEW JERSEY STATE PAROLE BOARD; William T. McCargo, Chairman, Assoc. Members et al.; David Blaker; Thomas Haaf; Heriberto Collazo; Oscar T. Doyle; Thomas J. Iskrzycki; Stephen Iwasko; Dominic D. Porrovecchio; Rolando Gomez Rivera; Norman Robertson; Kenneth L. Saunders; Peter J. Van Etten Ruby J. Washington.
    No. 05-3928.
    United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit.
    Submitted for Possible Dismissal Under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) or Summary Action Under Third Circuit LAR 27.4 and I.O.P. 10.6 Nov. 23, 2005.
    Decided Dec. 28, 2005.
    
      Kevin E. Alexander, Newark, NJ, pro se.
    Before RENDELL, AMBRO and BECKER, Circuit Judges.
   OPINION OF THE COURT

PER CURIAM

Appellant Kevin Alexander, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, appeals the order of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey dismissing his complaint filed pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. For the reasons that follow, we will summarily affirm the order of the District Court.

On July 29, 2002, while incarcerated at the Bayside State Prison, Alexander was denied parole by the New Jersey Parole Board. In February 2003, Alexander initiated the underlying § 1983 complaint in the District Court for the District of New Jersey. Alexander alleged in the District Court that the defendants violated his due process rights, as well as state law, by denying him parole before his pre-parole report had been completed. Alexander sought compensatory and punitive damages, as well as injunctive and declaratory relief.

On October 11, 2003, while his action was pending in the District Court, Alexander’s sentence expired and he was released from prison. However, approximately 15 months later, Alexander was convicted of receiving stolen property and distribution of a controlled dangerous substance on school property and sentenced to a three year term of imprisonment. Alexander, presently incarcerated at the Northern State Prison, is apparently eligible for parole on March 10, 2006.

By order entered August 3, 2005, the District Court dismissed Alexander’s complaint pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B). Specifically, the District Court dismissed Alexander’s federal claims on the grounds that they were either moot or without merit, and declined to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over Alexander’s state law claims. This timely appeal followed.

This Court has jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We exercise plenary review of the District Court’s dismissal under § 1915(e)(2)(B). Mitchell v. Horn, 318 F.3d 523, 530 (3d Cir.2003); Allah v. Seiverling, 229 F.3d 220, 223 (3d Cir.2000). We review the District Court’s decision to refrain from exercising supplemental jurisdiction over state law claims for an abuse of discretion. Hudson United Bank v. LiTenda Mortgage Corp., 142 F.3d 151, 158 (3d Cir.1998). We may affirm the District Court on any grounds supported by the record. See Nicini v. Morra, 212 F.3d 798, 805 (3d Cir.2000) (en banc). Because this appeal presents no “substantial question,” we will summarily affirm the District Court’s August 3, 2005, order.3d Cir. LAR 27.4 and I.O.P. 10.6.

It is well established that “[t]here is no constitutional or inherent right of a convicted person to be conditionally released before the expiration of a valid sentence.” Greenholtz v. Inmates of Nebraska Penal & Corr. Complex, 442 U.S. 1, 7, 99 S.Ct. 2100, 60 L.Ed.2d 668 (1979). States, however, “may under certain circumstances create liberty interests which are protected by the Due Process Clause.” Sandin v. Conner, 515 U.S. 472, 486, 115 S.Ct. 2293, 132 L.Ed.2d 418 (1995); see also Praise v. Terhune, 283 F.3d 506, 522 (3d Cir.2002). Even assuming that Alexander had a state-created liberty interest in the expectation of parole sufficient to invoke the requirements of due process, see, e.g., New Jersey Parole Bd. v. Byrne, 93 N.J. 192, 460 A.2d 103 (N.J.1983), Alexander failed to allege a due process violation. Due process in parole proceedings is satisfied so long as the procedures employed provide the inmate an opportunity to be heard and notice of any adverse decision. Greenholtz, 442 U.S. at 16, 99 S.Ct. 2100. Here, Alexander received a parole hearing on July 28, 2002, before defendants David Blaker and Thomas Haaf. Alexander does not allege that he was denied an opportunity to be heard at his July 28 hearing, or that he did not receive notice the Board’s adverse decision. Although Alexander contends that Blaker and Haaf did not have in their possession a copy of his amended judgment of conviction at the July 28 hearing, he does not allege that he was precluded from informing them of its existence at the hearing, at which he was clearly present. Under these circumstances, the District Court did not err in dismissing Alexander’s due process claims.

Likewise, the District Court did not abuse its discretion in declining to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over Alexander’s state law claims. The District Court may refuse to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over state law claims if it “has dismissed all claims over which it has original jurisdiction.” 28 U.S.C. § 1367(c)(3). Federal jurisdiction here was predicated on Alexander’s § 1983 claims. Thus, once Alexander’s federal claims were dismissed, the District Court properly exercised its jurisdiction and declined to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over the state law claims. See Hudson United Bank, 142 F.3d at 158.

For the foregoing reasons, we will summarily affirm the District Court’s August 3, 2005 order. 
      
      . Alexander’s complaint sought to certify a class of all similarly-situated inmates. We understand the District Court to have denied this request, and note that a prisoner proceeding pro se may not seek relief on behalf of his fellow inmates. See Oxendine v. Williams, 509 F.2d 1405, 1407 (4th Cir.1975) (”[I]t is plain error to permit [an] imprisoned litigant who is unassisted by counsel to represent his fellow inmates in a class action.”); see also Wallace v. Smith, 145 Fed. Appx. 300, 302 (11th Cir.2005).
     
      
      . Although Alexander was released on parole after he initiated this action, his appeal is not moot because, in addition to requesting injunctive and declaratory relief, Alexander seeks damages from the defendants. See, e.g., Board of Pardons v. Allen, 482 U.S. 369, 371 n. 1, 107 S.Ct. 2415, 96 L.Ed.2d 303 (1987); Anyanwutaku v. Moore, 151 F.3d 1053, 1057 (D.C.Cir.1998).