Allen v. Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts

Opinions of the United
2008 Decisions States Court of Appeals
for the Third Circuit
3-17-2008
Allen v. Admn Ofc PA Courts
Precedential or Non-Precedential: Non-Precedential
Docket No. 07-4783
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"Allen v. Admn Ofc PA Courts" (2008). 2008 Decisions. Paper 1433.
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DLD-138 NOT PRECEDENTIAL
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
No. 07-4783
JOHN ALLEN,
Appellant
v.
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE PENNSYLVANIA COURTS,
or The Office of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania;
ALLEGHENY COUNTY ADMINISTRATION, PENNSYLVANIA
On Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Western District of Pennsylvania
(D.C. Civil No. 07-cv-01617)
District Judge: Honorable Gary L. Lancaster
Submitted for Possible Dismissal Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)
February 28, 2008
Before: BARRY, CHAGARES and GREENBERG, Circuit Judges
(Opinion filed: March 17, 2008)
OPINION
PER CURIAM
John Allen named the Administrative Office of the Pennsylvania Courts or the
Office of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania and Allegheny County Administration,
Pennsylvania, as Defendants in a lawsuit he filed in the District Court. He accused them
of a criminal conspiracy under 18 U.S.C. §§ 241 & 242 and sued them for equal
protection and due protection violations ostensibly pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
Although his complaint is not a model of clarity, Allen appears to allege that state claims
for unpaid child support payments and unpaid foster care reimbursement payments are
false and the product of a conspiracy to deprive him of his civil rights. The District Court
dismissed Allen’s complaint as frivolous and for failure to state a claim. Allen appeals
and moves for appointment of counsel.
We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We will dismiss Allen’s appeal
pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i) because it has no arguable basis in fact or law.
See Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 325 (1989).
To the extent that Allen sought to impose criminal liability under 18 U.S.C. §§ 241& 242 on Defendants, he lacked standing to proceed. See United States v. Friedland, 83
F.3d 1531, 1539 (3d Cir. 1996) (“[T]he United States Attorney is responsible for the
prosecution of all criminal cases within his or her district.”).
Furthermore, Allen did not assert actionable civil claims against Defendants.
Neither Defendant may be considered a “person” subject to suit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
See Will v. Mich. Dep’t of State Police, 491 U.S. 58, 64 (1989). Furthermore, the
Eleventh Amendment of the United States Constitution protects an unconsenting state or
state agency from a suit brought in federal court by one of its own citizens. See
Pennhurst State Sch. & Hosp. v. Halderman, 465 U.S. 89, 100 (1984); Edelman v. Jordon,
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415 U.S. 651, 663 (1974). Although Congress can abrogate a state’s sovereign immunity,
it did not do so through the enactment of 42 U.S.C. § 1983, through which Allen
ostensibly proceeds. See Quern v. Jordon, 440 U.S. 332, 345 (1979).
For these reasons, we will dismiss Allen’s appeal pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
§ 1915(e)(2)(B)(i). Because his appeal lacks merit, we will deny his motion for
appointment of counsel. See Tabron v. Grace, 6 F.3d 147, 155 (3d Cir. 1993).
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