Opinion ID: 2978290
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Judgment for Masker Following Bench Trial

Text: Heard argues that the weight of the evidence does not support the district court’s judgment for Masker on Heard’s claim that Masker opened Heard’s legal mail outside Heard’s presence. Although Heard properly preserved the issue for appeal by moving for a new trial, see United States v. L.E. Cooke Co., 991 F.2d 336, 343 (6th Cir. 1993), a party may not challenge the weight of the evidence to support a trial court’s judgment in the absence of a transcript, see FED . R. APP . P. 10(b)(2); Hawley v. City of Cleveland, 24 F.3d 814, 820-22 (6th Cir. 1994). A party in a civil proceeding may obtain a transcript at the government’s expense if (1) he is granted leave to proceed in forma pauperis on appeal and (2) “the trial judge or a circuit judge certifies that the appeal is not frivolous (but presents a substantial question).” 28 U.S.C. § 753(f). Heard satisfies the first requirement as the district court granted Heard leave to proceed in forma pauperis on appeal. However, Heard did not ask the district court or this court to certify under 28 U.S.C. § 753(f) that an appeal of the judgment for Masker would not be frivolous. Instead, on October 27, 2008, Heard submitted to this court a transcript order form on which he indicated that a “[t]ranscript is 5 With respect to Heard’s RLUIPA claim against defendants in their official capacities, Heard may seek only declaratory or injunctive relief and not monetary relief. See Cardinal v. Metrish, 564 F.3d 794, 798-801 (6th Cir. 2009) (holding that the doctrine of sovereign immunity bars the recovery of monetary damages under RLUIPA when state officials are sued in their official capacities). This court has not ruled, however, on whether RLUIPA authorizes suits for monetary damages against state officials in their individual capacities. See Nelson v. Miller, 570 F.3d 868, 885-89 (7th Cir. 2009) (discussing split of authority on issue; holding that RLUIPA does not subject state officials to suit in their individual capacities). Because the parties have not briefed this issue and because we are remanding to the district court for further consideration of whether a Nation-of-Islam diet meets MDOC nutritional standards, we decline to decide this issue at this time. 19 unnecessary for appeal purposes.” Under these circumstances, we do not consider whether Heard can demonstrate a substantial question for appeal. Without a trial transcript, we are unable to review the evidence before the district court. Accordingly, we must accept the factual findings of the district court as correct and therefore affirm the judgment for Masker. Additionally, the district court did not abuse its discretion by denying Heard’s motion for a new trial because Heard did not come forward with newly discovered evidence or present any other grounds justifying the grant of a new trial. See Davis ex rel. Davis v. Jellico Cmty. Hosp. Inc., 912 F.2d 129, 132 (6th Cir. 1990).