Court Opinion

ID: 21912
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-25 07:50:10+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:43:14.861267
License: Public Domain

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                       FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

                            No. 99-40803
                        Conference Calendar

MICHAEL L. GARRETT,

                                         Plaintiff-Appellant,

versus

G.J. GOMEZ; D.B. MCELVANEY;
J.C. MAYFIELD; G.G. RODRIGUEZ;
W.D. HEARN,

                                         Defendants-Appellees.

                       - - - - - - - - - -
          Appeal from the United States District Court
               for the Southern District of Texas
                      USDC No. G-97-CV-705
                       - - - - - - - - - -
                         August 22, 2000

Before KING, Chief Judge, and POLITZ and WIENER, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:*

     Michael Lou Garrett, Texas prisoner # 258594, appeals from

the district court’s summary judgment dismissing his claims

brought under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 as frivolous.   We have reviewed

the record and the briefs of the parties, and we conclude that

the district court did not err in its judgment.

     Because Garrett has failed to show that his “conviction” at

the prison disciplinary proceeding was reversed, expunged, or

otherwise called into question, any § 1983 challenge to the

     *
        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that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent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.
                             No. 99-40803
                                  -2-

proceeding is barred under Edwards v. Balisok, 520 U.S. 641, 646-

48 (1997).   Garrett’s allegations of retaliation are completely

unsupported by any evidence and are merely conclusional.    They do

not, by themselves, raise an inference of retaliation.     See

Whittington v. Lynaugh, 842 F.2d 818, 819 (5th Cir. 1988).

Because an inmate possesses no First Amendment right to provide

legal assistance to fellow inmates, Garrett’s asserted First

Amendment violation fails.    See Tighe v. Wall, 100 F.3d 41,

43 n.1 (5th Cir. 1996).   Nor does his argument that prison

officials’ investigation of his grievances was not in compliance

with prison guidelines raise a constitutional claim.    Failure to

follow prison regulations alone does not give rise to a

constitutional claim under § 1983.    Hernandez v. Estelle, 788

F.2d 1154, 1158 (5th Cir. 1986).

     Garrett’s assertion that the district court’s statements in

the order of dismissal showed bias is without merit because a

judicial ruling will support a claim of bias only if it reveals

an opinion based on an extrajudicial source or demonstrates such

a high degree of antagonism as to make fair judgment impossible.

See Liteky v. United States, 510 U.S. 540, 555 (1994).     The

district court’s references to Garrett’s status as a frequent

filer were statements of fact, not evidence of bias.    Finally,

Garrett’s contention that the district court attempted to deny

him his right to appeal the court’s final judgment is based on a

misunderstanding of the proceedings and is frivolous.

     Garrett’s appeal is without merit and is thus frivolous.

See Howard v. King, 707 F.2d 215, 219-20 (5th Cir. 1983).
                           No. 99-40803
                                -3-

Because the appeal is frivolous, it is DISMISSED.     5th CIR. R.

42.2.   This counts as two strikes for purposes of 28 U.S.C.

§ 1915(g).   See Adepegba v. Hammons, 103 F.3d 383, 387 (5th Cir.

1996) (district court’s dismissal as frivolous plus this court’s

dismissal of the appeal as frivolous).     Garrett already

accumulated a strike for his appeal in Garrett v. Lee, No. 99-

40796 (5th Cir. Apr. 14, 2000), and two more in Garrett v. Leal,

No. 99-41449 (5th Cir. Aug. 21, 2000).     Because he now has five

strikes under the statute, Garrett may not proceed in forma

pauperis in any civil action or appeal filed while he is

incarcerated or detained in any facility unless he is under

imminent danger of serious physical injury.     § 1915(g).

     APPEAL DISMISSED.   5TH CIR. 42.2.   SANCTION IMPOSED UNDER 28

U.S.C. § 1915(g).