Adams v. Justice

United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit F I L E D IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT August 16, 2005 Charles R. Fulbruge III Clerk No. 04-40803 Conference Calendar RANDALL ADAMS, also known as Wild Man, Petitioner-Appellant, versus DAVID G. JUSTICE, Warden of Federal Correctional Institute, Texarkana, Respondent-Appellee. -------------------- Appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas USDC No. 5:03-CV-254-TJW -------------------- Before BENAVIDES, CLEMENT, and PRADO, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* Randall Adams, federal prisoner # 04632-043, is currently serving a 135-month sentence following his convictions for distributing cocaine and cocaine base. He appeals the dismissal, without prejudice, of his 28 U.S.C. § 2241 petition, which he filed to challenge the legality of his detention. Adams argues that the district court applied an overly rigid standard to his pro se amended petition. Adams amended his petition in response to an order issued by the magistrate judge. * Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR. R. 47.5.4. No. 04-40803 -2- A district court may sua sponte dismiss an action for failure to prosecute or to comply with any court order. FED. R. CIV. P. 41(b); McCullough v. Lynaugh, 835 F.2d 1126, 1127 (5th Cir. 1988). Here, the record shows that the amended petition did not conform to the order issued by the magistrate judge. Specifically, Adams filed an excess of pages, failed to concisely state his grounds for relief, and failed to briefly summarize the facts supporting his grounds for relief. Because Adams failed to comply with an order issued by the district court, the without-prejudice dismissal of his petition was not an abuse of discretion. See id.; McNeal v. Papasan, 842 F.2d 787, 789-90 (5th Cir. 1988). Accordingly, the judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.