Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_05-cv-01133/USCOURTS-caed-2_05-cv-01133-3/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

PAUL EDWIN GAUL,

Plaintiff, No. CIV S-05-1133 DFL CMK P

vs.

ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, et al.,

Defendants. ORDER

 /

Plaintiff, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, brings this § 1983 claim against

Governor Schwarzenegger, Chief of Correction Case Records Janet Rodriguez, and thirteen

members of California’s parole board for alleged procedural defects in his parole hearings. The

Magistrate Judge issued findings and recommendations on October 28, 2005, finding that

plaintiff’s claim can only be brought as a petition for a writ of habeas corpus because he seeks an

earlier or immediate release from prison. However, plaintiff’s complaint can also be read as

raising only procedural challenges to his parole hearing. In addition, he clarified in the

objections to the findings and recommendations that he intends only to raise procedural

challenges and does not seek an earlier release as part of the relief in this action. With the benefit

of this clarification, the complaint may be understood to raise a cognizable claim under § 1983. 

See Wilkerson v. Dotson, 544 U.S. 74, 125 S.Ct. 1242 (2005). Therefore, the court DECLINES

Case 2:05-cv-01133-JAM-CMK Document 11 Filed 08/09/06 Page 1 of 2
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to adopt this portion of the Magistrate Judge’s findings and recommendations and REMANDS 

the case to the Magistrate Judge for further proceedings.

The court adopts the Magistrate Judge’s recommendation that the parole board defendants

be dismissed, and these defendants are now dismissed. See Sellars v. Procunier, 641 F.2d 1295,

1302-03 (9th Cir. 1981); Montero v. Travis, 171 F.3d 757, 761 (2d Cir. 1999) (finding absolute

immunity bars § 1983 claims for injunctive relief against parole board officials); Federal Courts

Improvement Act of 1996, § 309(c), Pub.L.No. 104-317, 110 Stat. 3847, 3853 (1996) (amending

42 U.S.C. § 1983 to state that “in any action brought against a judicial officer for an act or

omission taken in such officer’s judicial capacity, injunctive relief shall not be granted unless a

declaratory decree was violated or declaratory relief was unavailable.”).

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: 8/8/2006

DAVID F. LEVI

United States District Judge

Case 2:05-cv-01133-JAM-CMK Document 11 Filed 08/09/06 Page 2 of 2