Case Name: Terrance Ross WILLAMAN, Appellant v. Maurice J. FERENTINO; Marshall J. Piccinini, Asst. D.A.; John Ashcroft; Others Known at this Time
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2006-04-05
Citations: 173 F. App'x 942
Docket Number: No. 05-1116
Parties: Terrance Ross WILLAMAN, Appellant v. Maurice J. FERENTINO; Marshall J. Piccinini, Asst. D.A.; John Ashcroft; Others Known at this Time.
Judges: Before ROTH, MCKEE and ALDISERT, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 173
Pages: 942–943

Head Matter:
Terrance Ross WILLAMAN, Appellant v. Maurice J. FERENTINO; Marshall J. Piccinini, Asst. D.A.; John Ashcroft; Others Known at this Time.
No. 05-1116.
United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit.
Submitted Under Third Circuit LAE 34.1(a) May 27, 2005.
Decided April 5, 2006.
Terrance Ross Willaman, Coehranton, PA, pro se.
Laura S. Irwin, Office of United States Attorney, Pittsburgh, PA, for Appellees.
Before ROTH, MCKEE and ALDISERT, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
OPINION
PER CURIAM
Terrance Ross Willaman appeals the District Court's order dismissing his petition for declaratory and injunctive relief and denying his motion to convene a grand jury. In his petition, Willaman sought declaratory and injunctive relief including that the government be enjoined from prosecuting him. He argued that he had a right to possess an unregistered machine gun under the First Amendment, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, and the Second Amendment. He further asserted that the government violated his rights under the Fourth and Fifth Amendments. The appellees filed a motion to dismiss. On December 20, 2004, the District Court dismissed his petition for relief for failure to state a claim and denied his motion to convene a grand jury as moot. Willaman filed a timely notice of appeal, and we have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. The government has filed a motion for summary affirmance.
We exercise plenary review over the District Court's order granting appellees' motion to dismiss. Gallo v. City of Philadelphia, 161 F.3d 217, 221 (3d Cir.1998). When reviewing a complaint for failure to state a claim, the Court must accept the allegations in the complaint as true. Hishon v. King & Spalding, 467 U.S. 69, 73, 104 S.Ct. 2229, 81 L.Ed.2d 59 (1984). The Court should not dismiss a complaint unless it is clear that no relief could be granted under any set of facts that could be proved. Id.
On appeal, Willaman raises only his Second Amendment argument and argues that the District Court decided the case based on bias in favor of the government. Declaratory relief is not available to attack a criminal conviction. Johnson v. Onion, 761 F.2d 224 (5th Cir.1985); Shannon v. Sequeech, 365 F.2d 827, 829 (10th Cir.1966) ("The [Declaratory Judgment] Act does not provide a means whereby previous judgments by state or federal courts may be reexamined, nor is it a substitute for appeal or post conviction remedies."). Willaman has the opportunity to raise his Second Amendment argument in his direct appeal from his criminal conviction, and we note that he has done so. See United States v. Willaman, C.A. No. 05-1336. Moreover, Willaman's claims are not cognizable to the extent that a favorable resolution of his claims would imply that his conviction is invalid. Edwards v. Balisok, 520 U.S. 641, 117 S.Ct. 1584, 137 L.Ed.2d 906 (1997); Heck v. Humphrey, 512 U.S. 477, 486-87, 114 S.Ct. 2364, 129 L.Ed.2d 383 (1994). With respect to Willaman's assertion that the District Court was biased in favor of the government, we note that he argues that the District Court Judge's bias "should be self-evident from his ruling in this action." Brief at 9. A litigant's displeasure with the District Court's legal rulings is not an adequate basis for recusal. Securacomm Consulting, Inc. v. Securacom Inc., 224 F.3d 273, 278 (3d Cir.2000).
For the above reasons, as well as those set forth by the District Court, we will affirm the District Court's judgment.
. In October 2004, Willaman was convicted by a jury of unlawful possession of a machine gun.