Presley v. Presley

F I L E D United States Court of Appeals Tenth Circuit UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS JUN 16 2004 TENTH CIRCUIT PATRICK FISHER Clerk JASON PRESLEY, also known as Ernie Young; CARYN CADMAN; R. BEN ANDERSON, Plaintiffs-Appellants, No. 04-4014 v. (D.C. No. 2:03-CV-64-PGC) (Utah) ELVIS A. PRESLEY; JANET MOFFIT, JO ANNE B. BARNHART; SCOTT JOHANSEN, (DCFS), Defendants-Appellees. ORDER AND JUDGMENT * Before SEYMOUR, LUCERO, and O’BRIEN, Circuit Judges. Jason Presley, a.k.a., Ernie Young appeals the district court’s dismissal of his civil suit. The ultimate relief sought by Mr. Presley is difficult to discern. * After examining appellant’s brief and the 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) and 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). The case is therefore submitted without oral argument. This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, or collateral estoppel.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. Having reviewed Mr. Presley’s appellate brief and the record of his extensive proceedings in the district court, we find no meritorious claims and affirm. Like the district court, we read the materials submitted by Mr. Presley to constitute a request that the federal courts order investigation and prosecution of various people for various crimes. Aplt. Br. at 3-8. And like the district court, we hold that such an order would improperly intrude upon the separation of powers. “Broad [prosecutorial] discretion rests largely on the recognition that the decision to prosecute is particularly ill-suited to judicial review.” Wayte v. United States, 470 U.S. 598, 607 (1985). Mr. Presley’s remaining allegations fail to state any cognizable federal claim that we can determine. While we will liberally construe the pleadings of a pro se claimant, this liberality cannot transform “vague and conclusory arguments” into valid claims for relief. Ogden v. San Juan County, 32 F.3d 452, 455 (10th Cir. 1994). For the foregoing reasons, we AFFIRM. ENTERED FOR THE COURT Stephanie K. Seymour Circuit Judge -2-