Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_07-cv-01727/USCOURTS-casd-3_07-cv-01727-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 28:1446 Petition for Removal

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- 1 - 07cv1727

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF

CALIFORNIA,

Plaintiff,

CASE NO. 07 CV 1727 JM (RBB)

ORDER SUA SPONTE

REMANDING ACTION TO STATE

vs. COURT

MARIA ROSARIO METCALF,

Defendant.

On August 31, 2007, Defendant filed a Notice of Removal of a criminal case pending against

her in San Diego Superior Court. In addition, Defendant apparently seeks to allege a counterclaim

under the “Alien Tort Claims Act.” Defendant seeks to remove the criminal proceeding pursuant to

28 U.S.C. §§ 1441 and 1446. The court notes that 28 U.S.C. § 1446 does not itself permit removal.

Rather, § 1446 sets forth the procedures for removal but does not itself permit removal. 

Furthermore, 28 U.S.C. § 1441 only permits removal of civil actions, not criminal actions. 28

U.S.C. § 1441(a) (“Except as otherwise expressly provided by Act of Congress, any civil action

brought in a state court of which the district courts of the United States have jurisdiction, may be

removed by the defendant or defendants, to the district court of the United States for the district where

such action is pending.”). Here, not only is the action a civil one, but the court lacks original

jurisdiction over the state criminal matter identified by Defendant.

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Case 3:07-cv-01727-JM-RBB Document 2 Filed 09/07/07 Page 1 of 2
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- 2 - 07cv1727

Even if Ms. Metcalf were to remove her criminal proceeding under 28 U.S.C. § 1443

(permitting removal of certain state court criminal matters), she could not prevail. To invoke federal

jurisdiction under § 1443, not only must a criminal prosecution be pending in state court, but the state

court defendant must demonstrate that he or she “is denied or cannot enforce in the courts of such

State a right under any law providing for the equal civil rights of citizens of the United States, or of

all persons within the jurisdiction thereof.” 28 U.S.C. § 1443(1). Upon careful review of the Notice

of Removal, Defendant fails to identify any cognizable civil right not enforceable in state court. Thus,

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1446(c)(4), this action is summarily remanded to state court. The Clerk of

the Court is instructed to close the file.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: September 7, 2007

 Hon. Jeffrey T. Miller

 United States District Judge

cc: All parties

Case 3:07-cv-01727-JM-RBB Document 2 Filed 09/07/07 Page 2 of 2