Watts v. Bailey

United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit F I L E D IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT August 28, 2006 Charles R. Fulbruge III Clerk No. 05-60822 Conference Calendar CARL WATTS, Plaintiff-Appellant, versus ROBERT BAILEY, Defendant-Appellee. -------------------- Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi USDC No. 4:05-CV-122 -------------------- Before DAVIS, SMITH, and WIENER, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* Carl Watts, Mississippi prisoner # 77138, appeals the 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(iii) dismissal as frivolous of his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 lawsuit against a state-court judge. Although he renews the allegations of his complaint, Watts does not challenge the district court’s conclusion that his claims were either unexhausted within the meaning of 28 U.S.C. § 2254(b)(1)(A) or failed because Judge Bailey is entitled to absolute judicial immunity. By failing to brief any argument challenging the district court’s reasons for dismissal, Watts has * 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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.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. 05-60822 -2- abandoned the only grounds for appeal. See Yohey v. Collins, 985 F.2d 222, 224-25 (5th Cir. 1993). The appeal is wholly without arguable merit, is frivolous, and is therefore dismissed. See 5TH CIR. R. 42.2; Howard v. King, 707 F.2d 215, 219-20 (5th Cir. 1983). The district court’s dismissal of Watts’ complaint counts as a strike for purposes of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g), as does the dismissal of the instant appeal. See Adepegba v. Hammons, 103 F.3d 383, 387-88 (5th Cir. 1996). Watts has accumulated two strikes in Watts v. Oglesby, No. 05-60853 (5th Cir. Aug. 25, 2006). Because Watts has now accumulated more than three strikes, he is barred from proceeding in forma pauperis in any civil action or appeal filed while he is incarcerated or detained in any facility unless he is under imminent danger of serious physical injury. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). DISMISSED AS FRIVOLOUS; 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g) BAR IMPOSED.