Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_07-cv-02282/USCOURTS-caed-2_07-cv-02282-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

MICHAEL WEBSTER &

RACARDO JACKSON,

Plaintiffs, No. CIV S-07-2282 MCE KJM P

vs.

GARY R. STANTON, et al., 

Defendants. FINDINGS & RECOMMENDATIONS

 /

Plaintiffs are county jail inmates who seek relief under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and have

requested leave to proceed in forma pauperis pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915. This proceeding was

referred to this court by Local Rule 72-302 pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1).

The in forma pauperis statute permits federal district courts to authorize a plaintiff

to proceed without prepayment of the filing fee if the plaintiff is unable to pay the fee. 

28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1). A court may deny leave to proceed in forma pauperis if it appears from

the face of the proposed complaint that the action is frivolous. Minetti v. Port of Seattle, 152

F.3d 1113 (9th Cir. 1998). In determining whether an action is frivolous, the court may “pierce

the veil of the complaint’s factual allegations and dismiss those claims whose factual contentions

are clearly baseless.” Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 327 (1989).

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Case 2:07-cv-02282-MCE -KJM Document 6 Filed 02/04/08 Page 1 of 2
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Plaintiffs claim that Solano County Jail officials are biased against AfricanAmerican inmates because Black Entertainment Television is not accessible in the jail and

“there’s no chanell for African Americans when there are several chanells for Latino’s &

Hispanics, Caucasians has CMT Country Music Television . . . .” (spelling and punctuation as in

original). 

Inmates have no constitutional right of access to television. Murphy v. Walker,

51 F.3d 714, 718 n.8 (7th Cir. 1995); Soto v. City of Sacramento, 567 F.Supp. 662, 685 (E.D.

Cal. 1983). The Tenth Circuit has found no constitutional violation when a white inmate

claimed that the broadcast selections in the jail favored African-American inmates. Elliott v.

Brooks, 188 F.3d 518 (10th Cir. 1999) (unpublished). Similarly, this court finds the underlying

action frivolous.

IT IS HEREBY RECOMMENDED that this action be dismissed as frivolous. 

These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District

Judge assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l). Within twenty

days after being served with these findings and recommendations, plaintiff may file written

objections with the court. The document should be captioned “Objections to Magistrate Judge’s

Findings and Recommendations.” Plaintiff is advised that failure to file objections within the

specified time may waive the right to appeal the District Court’s order. Martinez v. Ylst, 951

F.2d 1153 (9th Cir. 1991).

DATED: February 4, 2008. 

2/webs2282.56

Case 2:07-cv-02282-MCE -KJM Document 6 Filed 02/04/08 Page 2 of 2