Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caDC-15-07009/USCOURTS-caDC-15-07009-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 540
Nature of Suit: Prisoner Petitions - Mandamus and Other
Cause of Action: 

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United States Court of Appeals

FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA CIRCUIT

____________

No. 15-7009 September Term, 2015

1:14-cv-01852-UNA

Filed On: December 29, 2015

Ernest M. Greely, Jr.,

Appellant

v.

Matthew Charles Leefer, Attorney At Law,

Appellee

ON APPEAL FROM THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

BEFORE: Srinivasan and Wilkins, Circuit Judges; Ginsburg, Senior Circuit

Judge

J U D G M E N T

This appeal was considered on the record from the United States District Court

for the District of Columbia and on the brief filed by appellant. See Fed. R. App. P.

34(a)(2); D.C. Cir. Rule 34(j). Upon consideration of the foregoing, and the motion to

appoint counsel, it is

ORDERED that the motion to appoint counsel be denied. In civil cases,

appellants are not entitled to appointment of counsel when they have not demonstrated

sufficient likelihood of success on the merits. It is

FURTHER ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that the district court’s order filed

December 17, 2014, dismissing appellant’s complaint for lack of subject matter

jurisdiction, be affirmed. The district courts of the United States are "courts of limited

jurisdiction. They possess only that power authorized by Constitution and statute."

Kokkonen v. Guardian Life Ins. Co. of America, 511 U.S. 375, 377 (1994). The district

courts have jurisdiction in "federal question" cases, i.e., civil actions arising under the

Constitution, laws, or treaties of the United States. 28 U.S.C. § 1331. The district

courts also have jurisdiction in "diversity" cases, i.e., civil actions between citizens of

USCA Case #15-7009 Document #1590858 Filed: 12/29/2015 Page 1 of 2
United States Court of Appeals

FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA CIRCUIT

____________

No. 15-7009 September Term, 2015

different U.S. states or between U.S. citizens and foreign citizens or foreign states,

provided the matter in controversy exceeds $75,000. 28 U.S.C. § 1332. In this case,

because appellant established neither federal-question jurisdiction nor diversity

jurisdiction, the district court lacked jurisdiction. 

Pursuant to D.C. Circuit Rule 36, this disposition will not be published. The Clerk

is directed to withhold issuance of the mandate herein until seven days after resolution

of any timely petition for rehearing or petition for rehearing en banc. See Fed. R. App.

P. 41(b); D.C. Cir. Rule 41.

Per Curiam

Page 2

USCA Case #15-7009 Document #1590858 Filed: 12/29/2015 Page 2 of 2