Punchard v. State of New Mexico

F I L E D United States Court of Appeals Tenth Circuit UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS JAN 27 2003 TENTH CIRCUIT PATRICK FISHER Clerk WILLIAM LORD PUNCHARD, King, Royal Democratic State of Continental Africa Government (Edmound Right, Royal Consul; Michel Contreres, Royal Consul), Plaintiff - Appellant, v. No. 02-2275 STATE OF NEW MEXICO; GARRY D.C. No. CIV-02-780 BB/KBM JOHNSON, Governor; 2ND (D. New Mexico) JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT OF NEW MEXICO; 12TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT OF NEW MEXICO; NEW MEXICO STATE CORRECTIONS DEPARTMENT; DEMING CITY MAGISTRATE COURT, Defendants - Appellees. ORDER AND JUDGMENT * Before KELLY, McKAY, and MURPHY, Circuit Judges. * This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata and collateral estoppel. The court generally disfavors the citation of orders and judgments; nevertheless, an order and judgment may be cited under the terms and conditions of 10th Cir. R. 36.3. After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist the determination of this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). The case is therefore ordered submitted without oral argument. William Punchard, proceeding pro se, appeals the district court’s dismissal of his action for lack of federal jurisdiction. In his filings before the district court, Punchard alleged that he is the head-of-state of a non-existent country and that two diplomats employed by his “country” are being illegally incarcerated in New Mexico state prison; Punchard requested habeas relief on behalf of these two individuals. Punchard further alleged that he was being harassed by the Deming, New Mexico “City Magistrate Court,” which is allegedly mailing “Harassing Court Summons” to his “Royal Embassy.” In dismissing this action, the district court concluded that Punchard’s allegations were so fanciful and delusional that they failed to invoke the court’s federal question jurisdiction. This court has thoroughly reviewed all of the numerous documents filed by Punchard in this appeal and has reviewed de novo the district court’s order of dismissal and the entire record on appeal. That review demonstrates that the district court’s resolution of the case was substantially correct. Accordingly, this -2- court AFFIRMS for substantially those reasons set out in the district court’s order of dismissal dated September 3, 2002. All pending motions are hereby DENIED. ENTERED FOR THE COURT PER CURIAM -3-