Case ID: f-appx_73/html/0768-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "PER CURIAM:\n    ", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

David Earl HUNTER, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Victor RODRIGUEZ, Director, Executive Director Board of Pardon and Parole; Jack Kille, Hearing Officer; Philicia Mitchell, Hearing Officer, Defendants-Appellees.
    No. 02-11317
    Summary Calendar.
    United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
    Sept. 5, 2003.
    
      David Earl Hunter, Dallas, TX, for Plaintiff-Appellant.
    Before GARWOOD, EMILIO M. GARZA and BENAVIDES, Circuit Judges.
   PER CURIAM:

David Earl Hunter, Texas state prisoner # 662417, proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis, appeals the sua sponte dismissal of his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 complaint brought against Victor Rodriguez, in his official capacity as Executive Director of the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles, and against Parole Hearing Officer Jack Kille and Supervising Parole Officer Philieia Mitchell. The district cotut, holding that Rodriguez was entitled to absolute immunity, dismissed Hunter’s monetary claims against Rodriguez with prejudice, and dismissed Hunter’s monetary claims against Kille and Mitchell without prejudice pursuant to Heck v. Humphrey, 512 U.S. 477, 487, 114 S.Ct. 2364, 129 L.Ed.2d 383 (1994). The district court dismissed Hunter’s claims for injunctive relief against all three defendants without prejudice to those claims being reasserted in a petition for habeas corpus. None of the defendants were served and none appeared. Hunter argues that the district court erroneously determined that the defendants were entitled to immunity because he had a constitutional right to counsel at his parole revocation hearing.

A district court’s dismissal, under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2), of a prisoner’s suit prior to service is reviewed for an abuse of discretion. Boyd v. Biggers, 31 F.3d 279, 282 (5th Cir.1994). Whether a defendant possesses absolute immunity from suit, however, is a question of law that is reviewed de novo. Walter v. Torres, 917 F.2d 1379, 1383 (5th Cir.1990). Immunity is “a threshold question, to be resolved as early in the proceedings as possible.” Boyd, 31 F.3d at 284. It is therefore “appropriate for the district court[ ] to resolve the question of absolute immunity before reaching the Heck analysis when feasible.” Id.

Defendants Mitchell and Kille are entitled to absolute immunity because they were participants in the decision to revoke Hunter’s parole. Hulsey v. Owens, 63 F.3d 354, 356 (5th Cir.1995); Littles v. Board of Pardons and Paroles Div., 68 F.3d 122, 123 (5th Cir.1995). To the extent that Rodriguez participated in the revocation decision, the district court also correctly concluded that Rodriguez is also entitled to absolute immunity. Id. Furthermore, even if Rodriguez did not participate in the decision to revoke Hunter’s parole, Hunter’s claim against him is barred under Heck v. Humphrey. See McGrew v. Texas Bd. of Pardons & Paroles, 47 F.3d 158, 160-61 (5th Cir.1995). A dismissal of a claim for damages based on absolute immunity or pursuant to Heck is a dismissal with prejudice. See Boyd, 31 F.3d at 283-84, 285. A dismissal of a claim for injunctive relief may also be made pursuant to Heck and may be made without prejudice. See Clarke v. Stalder, 154 F.3d 186, 190-191 (5th Cir.1998) (en banc) (holding that a claim for prospective injunctive relief that would imply the invalidity of a prisoner’s conviction may be dismissed without prejudice subject to the rule of Heck v. Humphrey). Heck v. Humphrey clearly extends to Hunter’s request for injunctive relief based on his assertion that he was denied representation at his revocation hearing, and the district court, therefore, correctly dismissed Hunter’s claim for injunctive relief without prejudice and correctly dismissed with prejudice Hunter’s claim for damages against Rodriguez.

Hunter’s remaining claim, his claim for damages against Mitchell and Kille, was also properly dismissed. However, a dismissal based on absolute immunity should generally be with prejudice. Boyd, 31 F.3d at 285. Indeed, “in in forma pauperis proceedings ... dismissals as frivolous or malicious should be deemed to be dismissals with prejudice unless the district court specifically dismisses without prejudice.” Marts v. Hines, 117 F.3d 1504, 1506 (5th Cir.1997) (en banc). Of course, a district court that chooses to dismiss a prisoner’s in forma pauperis claim as frivolous may also choose to make that dismissal without prejudice. Id. However, “[w]hen the trial court dismisses without prejudice it is expected that the court will assign reasons,” and “[u]nexplained dismissals without prejudice will necessitate remand.” Id. Neither the magistrate judge nor the district court provided reasons for the decision to dismiss without (rather than with) prejudice Hunter’s claims for damages against Mitchell and Kille. Accordingly, we VACATE that portion of the order dismissing without prejudice Rodriguez’s claim for damages against Mitchell and Kille, and REMAND for entry of an order of dismissal with prejudice. We AFFIRM that portion of the district court’s order dismissing without prejudice Hunter’s claim for injunctive relief and dismissing with prejudice Hunter’s claim for damages against Rodriguez.

AFFIRMED in part, VACATED in part, and REMANDED. 
      
      . Pursuant to 5th Cir. R. 47.5 the Court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cir. R. 47.5.4.