Opinion ID: 701795
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: District Court Cases

Text: No. 93-3046-CIV-S-4 and 94-3008-CV-S-RGC Appeal No. 94-2042 11 In Phelps v. Rison, No. 93-2156 (8th Cir. June 9, 1993) (unpublished judgment), this court remanded case No. 93-3046 because Phelps's assertion therein that he was forced to listen to religious television and radio programs in contravention of his sincerely held religious beliefs was sufficient to state a First Amendment claim, and his assertion that he was subjected to incessant noise stated a colorable Eighth Amendment violation. Phelps then filed a habeas petition, district court case No. 94-3008, in which he made the same allegations. On remand, the district court consolidated the two cases, appointed counsel to represent Phelps, and referred the case to a magistrate judge. The magistrate recommended dismissal on the merits, and in so doing considered an affidavit and documentary evidence contesting Phelps's complaint allegations. Phelps filed objections, then moved to withdraw actions which did not include either of these cases. The district court then dismissed the civil rights complaint, case No. 93-3046, pursuant to Phelps's motion, and later dismissed the habeas petition, case No. 93-3008, as moot after Phelps was transferred to a different FMC. 12 Defendants concede that the district court committed error in dismissing these cases, but they suggest the issue has been abandoned on appeal by appointed appellate counsel. We decline, however, to consider these issues abandoned, cf. Jasperson v. Purolator Courier Corp., 765 F.2d 736, 740 (8th Cir.1985) (party's failure to raise or discuss issue in his brief is to be deemed abandonment of that issue), because Phelps requested relief from judgment on these actions in a previously filed pro se brief. For the reasons set forth above, the habeas petition is subject to the capable of repetition yet evading review exception to the mootness doctrine. Expressing no opinion on the merits of Phelps's actions, we reverse the judgment of the district court dismissing these cases, Nos. 93-3046 and 94-3008, and remand with directions to consider the merits of Phelps's claims that he was forced to listen to religious television and radio programs in contravention of his religious beliefs and that he was subjected to incessant noise.