Court Opinion

ID: 51702
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-26 01:07:58+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:19:08.983317
License: Public Domain

United States Court of Appeals
                                                                           Fifth Circuit
                                                                        F I L E D
          IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                                              August 21, 2007
                   FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
                                                                    Charles R. Fulbruge III
                                                                            Clerk
                                No. 06-11008
                             Conference Calendar

LESTER JON RUSTON

                                           Petitioner-Appellant

v.

ALBERTO R GONZALES, U S ATTORNEY GENERAL

                                           Respondent-Appellee

                 Appeal from the United States District Court
                      for the Northern District of Texas
                           USDC No. 3:06-CV-1350

Before HIGGINBOTHAM, SMITH, and CLEMENT, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:*
      Lester Jon Ruston, federal prisoner # 26834-177, moves this court for leave
to proceed in forma pauperis (IFP) on appeal following the dismissal without
prejudice of his 28 U.S.C. § 2241 petition. Ruston’s motion is construed as a
challenge to the district court’s determination that the appeal is not taken in
good faith. See Baugh v. Taylor, 117 F.3d 197, 202 (5th Cir. 1997). This court’s
inquiry into whether the appeal is taken in good faith “is limited to whether 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should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited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. 06-11008

appeal involves ‘legal points arguable on their merits (and therefore not
frivolous).’” Howard v. King, 707 F.2d 215, 220 (5th Cir. 1983) (citation omitted).
If the appeal is frivolous, this court may dismiss it sua sponte under 5TH CIR.
R. 42.2. Baugh, 117 F.3d at 202 n.24.
      Ruston has not shown that the district court erred in dismissing his § 2241
petition without prejudice.    Ruston is not entitled to habeas relief based on
conclusional allegations that it is not possible to raise his claims in the pending
criminal case due to fraud and judicial and prosecutorial misconduct. See Koch
v. Puckett, 907 F.2d 524, 530 (5th Cir. 1990). Ruston’s request for IFP status is
denied, and his appeal is dismissed as frivolous. See Baugh, 117 F.3d at 202
& n.24; 5TH CIR. R. 42.2. Ruston’s motions for production, for contempt of court,
for judicial notice, and to disqualify the judges of this court are also denied.
      IFP DENIED; MOTIONS DENIED; APPEAL DISMISSED.

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