Alexander v. New Jersey State Parole Board

Opinions of the United
2005 Decisions States Court of Appeals
for the Third Circuit
12-28-2005
Alexander v. NJ Parole Board
Precedential or Non-Precedential: Non-Precedential
Docket No. 05-3928
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BPS-58
NOT PRECEDENTIAL
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
NO. 05-3928
__________
KEVIN E. ALEXANDER,
Appellant
v.
NEW JERSEY STATE PAROLE BOARD; WILLIAM T. MCCARGO,
CHAIRMAN, ASSOC. MEMBERS et al.; DAVID BLAKER;
THOMAS HAAF; HERIBERTO COLLAZO; OSCAR T. DOYLE;
THOMAS J. ISKRZYCKI; STEPHEN IWASKO; DOMINIC D.
PORROVECCHIO; ROLANDO GOMEZ RIVERA; NORMAN
ROBERTSON; KENNETH L. SAUNDERS; PETER J. VAN ETTEN
RUBY J. WASHINGTON
____________________
On Appeal From the United States District Court
For the District of New Jersey
(D.C. Civil No. 03-cv-00697)
District Judge: Robert B. Kugler
____________________
Submitted For Possible Dismissal Under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)
or Summary Action Under Third Circuit LAR 27.4 and I.O.P. 10.6
November 23, 2005
Before: RENDELL, AMBRO and BECKER, Circuit Judges
(Filed: December 28, 2005)
_____________
OPINION OF THE COURT
_____________
PER CURIAM
Appellant Kevin Alexander, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, appeals the order
of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey dismissing his complaint
filed pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. For the reasons that follow, we will summarily affirm
the order of the District Court.
On July 29, 2002, while incarcerated at the Bayside State Prison, Alexander was
denied parole by the New Jersey Parole Board. In February 2003, Alexander initiated the
underlying § 1983 complaint in the District Court for the District of New Jersey.1
Alexander alleged in the District Court that the defendants violated his due process rights,
as well as state law, by denying him parole before his pre-parole report had been
completed. Alexander sought compensatory and punitive damages, as well as injunctive
and declaratory relief.
On October 11, 2003, while his action was pending in the District Court,
Alexander’s sentence expired and he was released from prison. However, approximately
15 months later, Alexander was convicted of receiving stolen property and distribution of
a controlled dangerous substance on school property and sentenced to a three year term of
imprisonment. Alexander, presently incarcerated at the Northern State Prison, is
apparently eligible for parole on March 10, 2006.
1
Alexander’s complaint sought to certify a class of all similarly-situated inmates. We
understand the District Court to have denied this request, and note that a prisoner
proceeding pro se may not seek relief on behalf of his fellow inmates. See Oxendine v.
Williams, 509 F.2d 1405, 1407 (4th Cir. 1975) (“[I]t is plain error to permit [an]
imprisoned litigant who is unassisted by counsel to represent his fellow inmates in a class
action.”); see also Wallace v. Smith, 145 Fed. Appx. 300, 302 (11th Cir. 2005).
2
By order entered August 3, 2005, the District Court dismissed Alexander’s
complaint pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B). Specifically, the District Court
dismissed Alexander’s federal claims on the grounds that they were either moot or
without merit, and declined to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over Alexander’s state
law claims. This timely appeal followed.
This Court has jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291.2 We exercise plenary
review of the District Court’s dismissal under § 1915(e)(2)(B). Mitchell v. Horn, 318
F.3d 523, 530 (3d Cir. 2003); Allah v. Seiverling, 229 F.3d 220, 223 (3d Cir. 2003). We
review the District Court’s decision to refrain from exercising supplemental jurisdiction
over state law claims for an abuse of discretion. Hudson United Bank v. LiTenda
Mortgage Corp., 142 F.3d 151, 158 (3d Cir. 1998). We may affirm the District Court on
any grounds supported by the record. See Nicini v. Morra, 212 F.3d 798, 805 (3d Cir.
2000) (en banc). Because this appeal presents no “substantial question,” we will
summarily affirm the District Court’s August 3, 2005, order. 3d Cir. LAR 27.4 and I.O.P.
10.6.
It is well established that “[t]here is no constitutional or inherent right of a
convicted person to be conditionally released before the expiration of a valid sentence.”
Greenholtz v. Inmates of Nebraska Penal & Corr. Complex, 442 U.S. 1, 7 (1979). States,
2
Although Alexander was released on parole after he initiated this action, his appeal is
not moot because, in addition to requesting injunctive and declaratory relief, Alexander
seeks damages from the defendants. See, e.g., Board of Pardons v. Allen, 482 U.S. 369,
371 n. 1 (1987); Anyanwutaku v. Moore, 151 F.3d 1053, 1057 (D.C. Cir. 1998).
3
however, “may under certain circumstances create liberty interests which are protected by
the Due Process Clause.” Sandin v. Connor, 515 U.S. 472, 486 (1995); see also Fraise v.
Terhune, 283 F.3d 506, 522 (3d Cir. 2002). Even assuming that Alexander had a state-
created liberty interest in the expectation of parole sufficient to invoke the requirements
of due process, see, e.g., New Jersey Parole Bd. v Byrne, 460 A.2d 103 (N.J. 1983),
Alexander failed to allege a due process violation. Due process in parole proceedings is
satisfied so long as the procedures employed provide the inmate an opportunity to be
heard and notice of any adverse decision. Greenholtz, 442 U.S. at 16. Here, Alexander
received a parole hearing on July 28, 2002, before defendants David Blaker and Thomas
Haaf. Alexander does not allege that he was denied an opportunity to be heard at his July
28 hearing, or that he did not receive notice the Board’s adverse decision. Although
Alexander contends that Blaker and Haaf did not have in their possession a copy of his
amended judgment of conviction at the July 28 hearing, he does not allege that he was
precluded from informing them of its existence at the hearing, at which he was clearly
present. Under these circumstances, the District Court did not err in dismissing
Alexander’s due process claims.
Likewise, the District Court did not abuse its discretion in declining to exercise
supplemental jurisdiction over Alexander’s state law claims. The District Court may
refuse to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over state law claims if it “has dismissed all
claims over which it has original jurisdiction.” 28 U.S.C. § 1367(c)(3). Federal
jurisdiction here was predicated on Alexander’s § 1983 claims. Thus, once Alexander’s
4
federal claims were dismissed, the District Court properly exercised its jurisdiction and
declined to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over the state law claims. See Hudson
United Bank, 147 F.3d at 158.
For the foregoing reasons, we will summarily affirm the District Court’s August 3,
2005 order.
5