Court Opinion

ID: 9389484
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-04-25 18:01:40.541405+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:18:28.222256
License: Public Domain

Case: 22-60299     Document: 00516724119         Page: 1     Date Filed: 04/25/2023

              United States Court of Appeals
                   for the Fifth Circuit
                                ____________                         United States Court of Appeals
                                                                              Fifth Circuit

                                                                            FILED
                                  No. 22-60299                          April 25, 2023
                                Summary Calendar
                                ____________                           Lyle W. Cayce
                                                                            Clerk
   Kevin Terrance Davis,

                                                           Plaintiff—Appellant,

                                       versus

   Marshall Turner, Superintendent; Timothy Morris, Warden;
   Leather Williams, K9 Commander; Donovan Clarke, K9
   Sergeant,

                                           Defendants—Appellees.
                  ______________________________

                  Appeal from the United States District Court
                    for the Northern District of Mississippi
                            USDC No. 4:20-CV-55
                  ______________________________

   Before Jones, Haynes, and Oldham, Circuit Judges.
   Per Curiam: *
          Pro se prisoner Kevin Davis brought this suit to challenge the
   conditions of his confinement under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Below, the parties
   consented to proceed to judgment before a magistrate judge. The magistrate
          _____________________
          *
            Pursuant to 5th Circuit Rule 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   opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited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 Circuit Rule 47.5.4.
Case: 22-60299        Document: 00516724119         Page: 2   Date Filed: 04/25/2023

                                     No. 22-60299

   judge granted summary judgment in favor of the defendants because Davis
   failed to exhaust his administrative remedies for his claims. See 42 U.S.C.
   § 1997e; see also Johnson v. Johnson, 385 F.3d 503, 515 (5th Cir. 2004). Davis
   appeals.
          To exhaust, a prisoner must “complete the administrative review
   process in accordance with the applicable procedural rules.” Jones v. Bock,
   549 U.S. 199, 218, 127 S. Ct. 910, 922 (2007). Davis filed a “sensitive issue”
   grievance, but the prison administrative remedy program director
   determined that the issue was not “sensitive” and told the prisoner that he
   must file his grievance through the regular channels. See MDOC Inmate
   Handbook      at    17,   available   at   http://www.mdoc.ms.gov/Inmate-
   Info/Documents/CHAPTER_VIII.pdf. Rather than do so, Davis elected to
   file this suit. He claims that he exhausted when he filed his “sensitive issue”
   grievance, but the state grievance procedures clearly require him to proceed
   through the regular channels if his issue is deemed not sensitive. Therefore,
   he has not exhausted his administrative remedies.           Accordingly, the
   judgment below is AFFIRMED. We GRANT the motion to file a reply
   brief out of time, but DENY AS MOOT the motion to appoint counsel.

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