United States Court of Appeals
Fifth Circuit
F I L E D
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT August 22, 2006
Charles R. Fulbruge III
Clerk
No. 05-11204
Summary Calendar
LEROY B. MEEK,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
versus
LAWRENCE BRACKENS; NFN MCMILLER, Sergeant; NFN DENHAM,
Lieutenant; NFN NORWOOD, Sergeant; NFN KERRY, Sergeant,
Defendants-Appellees.
--------------------
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Northern District of Texas
USDC No. 7:05-CV-40
--------------------
Before KING, HIGGINBOTHAM, and GARZA, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
Leroy B. Meek, Texas prisoner # 505329, appeals the
dismissal of his complaint filed under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for
failure to exhaust administrative remedies. Meek had 30 days
from the entry of the June 30, 2005, judgment to file a timely
notice of appeal. See FED. R. APP. P. 4(a)(1)(A). Meek’s pro se
August 12, 2005, notice of appeal was untimely. See id.
A district court may grant a defendant an additional 30 days
in which to file a notice of appeal upon a showing of excusable
*
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this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except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. 05-11204
-2-
neglect or good cause. See FED. R. APP. P. 4(a)(5). Meek’s
notice of appeal, which was filed within this additional 30-day
period, sufficed as a motion under Rule 4(a)(5). See United
States v. Golding, 739 F.2d 183, 184 (5th Cir. 1984); see also
Houston v. Lack, 487 U.S. 266, 276 (1988) (holding that a notice
of appeal submitted by a pro se prisoner is deemed filed on the
date the prisoner submits it to prison officials for mailing).
Accordingly, Meek’s appeal is held in abeyance, and the case
is REMANDED to the district court for a ruling under FED. R. APP.
P. 4(a)(5). Upon ruling, the district court shall promptly
return the case to this court for dismissal or further
proceedings, as may be appropriate.