Court Opinion

ID: 22682
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-25 08:01:14+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:03:47.865581
License: Public Domain

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                       FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

                            No. 00-60431
                        Conference Calendar

WILLIAM E. ANDERSON,

                                         Plaintiff-Appellant,

versus

LARRY LUCAS; HAZEL ROBINSON;
ALFRED BODAINE; WALTER BOOKER,

                                         Defendants-Appellees.

                       - - - - - - - - - -
          Appeal from the United States District Court
            for the Northern District of Mississippi
                    USDC No. 4:98-CV-219-D-B
                       - - - - - - - - - -
                        December 13, 2000

Before DAVIS, STEWART, and PARKER, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:*

     William E. Anderson, Mississippi prisoner # 13682, appeals

the take-nothing judgment entered in his in forma pauperis 42

U.S.C. § 1983 complaint.   Anderson argues that the evidence

presented at trial by the defendants was false and that he was

denied due process because the defendants were not criminally

prosecuted.

     Anderson has failed to provide a copy of the trial

transcript in the record on appeal.   This court need not consider

     *
        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that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent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. 00-60431
                                 -2-

the merits of the issue when the appellant fails to provide a

transcript.   Powell v. Estelle, 959 F.2d 22, 26 (5th Cir. 1992).

Even if Anderson had provided the transcript, he is effectively

challenging the credibility determinations of the trier of fact,

which will not be disturbed on appeal.     Martin v. Thomas, 973

F.2d 449, 453 & n.3 (5th Cir. 1992).

     Anderson’s due process challenge is frivolous.        Whether

criminal charges should have been initiated against the

defendants rests within the discretion of the prosecuting

attorney, not the defendants, and prosecuting attorneys are

absolutely immune from liability under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.        Boyd v.

Biggers, 31 F.3d 279, 285 (5th Cir. 1994)

     Because Anderson’s appeal is without arguable merit, it is

frivolous and must be dismissed.    See Howard v. King, 707 F.2d

215, 219-20 (5th Cir. 1983).   This dismissal of a frivolous

appeal counts as a strike against him for purposes of 28 U.S.C.

§ 1915(g).    See Adepegba v. Hammons, 103 F.3d 383, 388 (5th Cir.

1996).   If Anderson receives three strikes, he will be barred

from bringing a civil action or appeal as a prisoner proceeding

in forma pauperis unless he is under imminent danger of serious

physical injury.    See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g).   Anderson should

review any pending complaints or appeals to ensure that they do

not raise frivolous issues.

     APPEAL DISMISSED AS FRIVOLOUS.    5TH CIR. R. 42.2.