Case Name: Joseph Oye OGUNTODU, Petitioner-Appellant v. William STEPHENS, Director, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Correctional Institutions Division, Respondent-Appellee
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2014-03-14
Citations: 558 F. App'x 437
Docket Number: No. 13-10971
Parties: Joseph Oye OGUNTODU, Petitioner-Appellant v. William STEPHENS, Director, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Correctional Institutions Division, Respondent-Appellee.
Judges: Before DAVIS, SOUTHWICK, and HIGGINSON, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 558
Pages: 437–438

Head Matter:
Joseph Oye OGUNTODU, Petitioner-Appellant v. William STEPHENS, Director, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Correctional Institutions Division, Respondent-Appellee.
No. 13-10971.
United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
March 14, 2014.
Joseph Oye Oguntodu, Abilene, TX, pro se.
Before DAVIS, SOUTHWICK, and HIGGINSON, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM:
Joseph Oye Oguntodu, Texas prisoner # 1728590, moves this court for a certificate of appealability (COA) to appeal the district court's denial of relief, which he requested in a submission styled as a 28 U.S.C. § 2254 petition. The district court construed the petition as raising only § 2254 claims arising out of Oguntodu's prison disciplinary conviction in case number 20130024805 and denied it on the basis that Oguntodu did not have a liberty interest at stake. Oguntodu has not shown error in the district court's decision that his disciplinary punishment did not implicate a protected liberty interest. Instead, given the benefit of liberal construction, he argues that the district court failed to consider his claim that prison officials filed the disciplinary complaint in retaliation for his complaints against another officer. We construe Oguntodu's request for a COA as both a request for a COA to appeal the denial of his § 2254 claims and an appeal of the dismissal of his civil rights claims.
The label attached to a prisoner's pro se pleading is not controlling; rather, courts must look to the content of the pleading. United States v. Santora, 711 F.2d 41, 42 n. 1 (5th Cir.1983). Oguntodu's retaliation claim is potentially cognizable under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The district eourt, however, did not address whether Oguntodu stated cognizable claims under § 1983. See Serio v. Member of La. State. Bd. of Pardons, 821 F.2d 1112, 1119 (5th Cir.1987).
Oguntodu's request for a COA to appeal the dismissal of his § 2254 claims and his motion for the appointment of counsel are DENIED. The district court's dismissal of Oguntodu's civil rights claims is VACATED, and the case is REMANDED for the district court to consider whether Ogunto-du has alleged any civil rights claims cognizable under § 1983.
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.