Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ared-1_07-cv-00025/USCOURTS-ared-1_07-cv-00025-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 555
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Prison Condition
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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1

The Court notes that plaintiff has appealed the termination of her parental rights to the

Kansas Supreme Court.

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS

NORTHERN DIVISION

THERESA CATHERYNNE 

PRYOR-KENDRICK, ADC #708204, et al. PLAINTIFFS

V. CASE NO. 1:07CV00025 JMM/BD

NURZUHAL FAUST, et al. DEFENDANTS

ORDER

The Court has received the July 20, 2007 Partial Recommended Disposition from

Magistrate Judge Beth Deere. The Court has reviewed the objections and additional

material provided by plaintiff on July 30, 2007 and August 9, 2007.

The Court finds that while plaintiff does have a liberty interest in familial

relationships and a substantive due process right to control the care and custody of her

children cognizable under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, see Dornheim v. Sholes, 430, F.3d 919 (8th

Cir. 2005) (parents have liberty interest in familial relationships and have substantive due

process right to control the care and custody of their children), this Court lacks

jurisdiction over these claims. See Kahn v. Kahn, 21 F.3d 859 (8th Cir. 1994) (federal

courts do not exercise jurisdiction over such proceedings involving parental rights).1

 

 Thus, plaintiff’s parental interference claims and defendants Julia Webber, Cherry

Garrett, Stephanie England, Julie Redd, and Kathy Pirano are dismissed without

Case 1:07-cv-00025-JMM Document 31 Filed 08/15/07 Page 1 of 2
prejudice.

For the reasons stated by the Magistrate Judge and adopted by this Court as its own

findings, (1) Kathleen M. Dechant is dismissed as a plaintiff; (2) plaintiff’s claim that

Arkansas Department of Corrections officials falsely accused her of an escape is

dismissed without prejudice; and (3) the plaintiff may proceed against all the Arkansas

Department of Correction defendants who are alleged to have interfered with her legal

mail or her right of access to the court.

IT IS SO ORDERED, this 15 day of August , 2007.

 ________________________________

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 1:07-cv-00025-JMM Document 31 Filed 08/15/07 Page 2 of 2