Case Name: Richard Gordon BANNISTER, Petitioner-Appellant, v. Dennis SMITH, FCI La Tuna, Warden, Respondent-Appellee
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2007-01-25
Citations: 214 F. App'x 486
Docket Number: No. 06-50436
Parties: Richard Gordon BANNISTER, Petitioner-Appellant, v. Dennis SMITH, FCI La Tuna, Warden, Respondent-Appellee.
Judges: Before DeMOSS, STEWART and PRADO, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 214
Pages: 486–487

Head Matter:
Richard Gordon BANNISTER, Petitioner-Appellant, v. Dennis SMITH, FCI La Tuna, Warden, Respondent-Appellee.
No. 06-50436
Summary Calendar.
United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
Jan. 25, 2007.
Richard Gordon Bannister, pro se.
Eduardo R. Castillo, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Texas, El Paso, TX, for Respondent-Appellee.
Before DeMOSS, STEWART and PRADO, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM:
Richard Gordon Bannister, federal prisoner # 18907-051, moves this court for leave to appeal in forma pauperis (IFP) following the district court's dismissal of his 28 U.S.C. § 2241 petition, wherein he challenged a parole determination by the United States Parole Commission. The district court denied IFP, certifying that the appeal was not taken in good faith. Bannister's motion for IFP is construed as a challenge to the district court's certification. See Baugh v. Taylor, 117 F.3d 197, 202 (5th Cir.1997).
Bannister argues that the Parole Commission failed to conduct an initial hearing within the prescribed time, failed to return a timely decision after the initial hearing, and delayed in providing him notice of its decision on the initial hearing. He further argues that the Parole Commission miscalculated his offense severity rating, failed to respond to his administrative appeal within the prescribed time, returned a more adverse decision on appeal, and failed to provide an adequate explanation for its decision on appeal.
A federal court may not reverse the decision of the United States Parole Commission unless the decision involves flagrant, unwarranted, or unauthorized action. Page v. United States Parole Comm'n, 651 F.2d 1083, 1085 (5th Cir. 1981). Based on a review of the record, we conclude that Bannister fails to show prejudice from the alleged delays in the hearing and action by the Parole Commission. See id. at 1087. Further, the Commission's action with respect to determining Bannister's parole release date based on aggravating factors was within its authorized discretion. See Brown v. Lundgren, 528 F.2d 1050, 1055 (5th Cir.1976). Bannister fails to show that the Commission's decision involved flagrant, unwarranted, or unauthorized action. See Page, 651 F.2d at 1085.
Bannister has failed to show that his appeal involves "legal points arguable on their merits (and therefore not frivolous)." Howard v. King, 707 F.2d 215, 220 (5th Cir.1983) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). Accordingly, his motion for authorization to proceed IFP on appeal is denied, and his appeal is dismissed as frivolous. See Baugh, 117 F.3d at 202 & n. 24; 5th Cir. R. 42.2.
MOTION FOR IFP DENIED; APPEAL DISMISSED.
Pursuant to 5th Cir. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cir. R. 47.5.4.