Source: http://sc.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20171101_0002483.DSC.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2019-04-23 08:06:26+00:00

Document:
Plaintiff Olandio Ray Workman, a pretrial detainee proceeding pro se, filed this action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against the above-captioned Defendant. See ECF No. 1. The matter is before the Court for consideration of Plaintiff's objections to the Report and Recommendation (“R & R”) of United States Magistrate Judge Kevin F. McDonald, who recommends summarily dismissing this action without prejudice. See ECF Nos. 9 & 11.
The Magistrate Judge makes only a recommendation to the Court. The Magistrate Judge's recommendation has no presumptive weight, and the responsibility to make a final determination remains with the Court. Mathews v. Weber, 423 U.S. 261, 270-71 (1976). The Court must conduct a de novo review of those portions of the R & R to which specific objections are made, and it may accept, reject, or modify, in whole or in part, the recommendation of the Magistrate Judge or recommit the matter with instructions. 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1).
Plaintiff, a state pretrial detainee being held at the Greenville County Detention Center, has filed this § 1983 action against Defendant Cassandra Gorton, his defense attorney representing him in his pending state criminal case. See ECF No. 1. Plaintiff's allegations relate to his ongoing criminal proceedings, including his preliminary hearing. The Magistrate Judge recommends summarily dismissing this action because the complaint alleges no facts indicating Gorton is a state actor amenable to suit under § 1983. R & R at p. 3.
Although Plaintiff has filed objections to the R & R and a motion to amend,  see ECF Nos. 11 & 13, the Court finds Plaintiff's claims fail for an additional reason not discussed in the R & R-namely, that this Court should abstain from hearing this action pursuant to the Younger abstention doctrine. The Court finds Younger abstention is appropriate because (1) Plaintiff is involved in ongoing state criminal proceedings (2) that implicate important state interests, and because (3) Plaintiff has an adequate opportunity to raise his federal claims in the state proceedings. See Sprint Commc'ns, Inc. v. Jacobs, 134 S.Ct. 584 (2013) (addressing the appropriate grounds for Younger abstention); Robinson v. Thomas, 855 F.3d 278, 285 (4th Cir. 2017) (summarizing the three Younger criteria). By alleging Defendant Gorton has been ineffective and seeking her disbarment, Plaintiff is effectively asking this Court to intervene in a pending state criminal matter. See, e.g., Hawthorne v. Edgefield Cty., 2016 WL 7228243 (D.S.C. Dec. 14, 2016) (summarily dismissing based on Younger abstention where the plaintiff alleged his defense counsel was ineffective in pending state criminal proceedings); Bradley v. Salisbury Police Dep't, 2013 WL 6592489 (D. Md. Dec. 13, 2013) (summarily dismissing a case based on Younger abstention where the plaintiff was involved in ongoing state criminal proceedings), aff'd, 562 F. App'x 166 (4th Cir. 2014) (“[W]e affirm for the reasons stated by the district court.”).
Moreover, Plaintiff has not made a showing of “extraordinary circumstances” justifying federal interference with the state proceedings. See Robinson, 855 F.3d at 286 (“A federal court may disregard Younger's mandate to abstain from interfering with ongoing state proceedings only where ‘extraordinary circumstances' exist that present the possibility of irreparable harm.”). Accordingly, the Court modifies the R & R to reflect this additional reason for dismissal, and overrules Plaintiff's (4th Cir. 2012) (stating a court should deny a request to amend if amendment would be futile), and the Court will deny his motion to amend. objections.
Conclusion For the foregoing reasons, the Court overrules Plaintiff's objections, adopts the R & R [ECF No. 9] as modified herein, and DISMISSES this action without prejudice and without issuance and service of process. The Court DENIES Plaintiff's motion to amend [ECF No. 13] as futile.

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