FILED
United States Court of Appeals
Tenth Circuit
April 30, 2013
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
Elisabeth A. Shumaker
Clerk of Court
TENTH CIRCUIT
EVERETT HOUCK,
Plaintiff-Appellant, No. 13-6034
v. (W.D. of Okla.)
JOE HEATON, United States District (D.C. No. 5:13-CV-00074-R)
Judge,
Defendant-Appellee.
ORDER AND JUDGMENT *
Before BRISCOE, Chief Judge, ANDERSON, and TYMKOVICH, Circuit
Judges. **
Everett Houck lost his home to foreclosure and began a series of lawsuits
against members of the Oklahoma judiciary involved in that process. In this case,
Houck has now extended his efforts to members of the federal judiciary as well.
As relevant to this action, Houck filed a one-page pro se complaint against U.S.
*
This order and judgment is not binding precedent except under the
doctrines of law of the case, res judicata and collateral estoppel. It may be cited,
however, for its persuasive value consistent with Fed. R. App. P. 32.1 and 10th
Cir. R. 32.1.
**
After examining the briefs and the appellate record, this three-judge
panel has determined unanimously that oral argument would not be of material
assistance in the determination of this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a); 10th
Cir. R. 34.1(G). The cause is therefore ordered submitted without oral argument.
District Court Judge Joseph Heaton. In its entirety, the body of Houck’s
complaint reads as follows:
I am seeking relief under Title 18 USC Section 242 to
seek justice for those who have been denied their civil
right by judges in the state of Oklahoma. I realize this
is [a] criminal statute, but the US Attorney fails to
answer my complaints so I am filing this in civil court as
a class action to get enough evidence to get action.
I filed suit in this court after I my [sic] appeal in
Oklahoma County was completely ignored. My case in
this Court was dismissed the day after I filed it. After
research I have found that there are a great many
judicial complaints filed against judgments for reason
similar to mine. I am filing this as a class action to seek
a place for those who have been denied their rights a
chance to come and have their cases heard and to maybe
bring about change in a corrupt system. There needs to
be honest judicial review, not a rubber stamp that allows
corrupt behavior to continue.
Houck v. Heaton, No. 5:13-cv-00074-R, ECF #1 (W.D. Okla. Jan. 13, 2013).
The district court dismissed Houck’s complaint for failure to state a claim
because 18 U.S.C. § 242 provides no private right of action. The district court is
correct. As we noted in one of Houck’s previous appeals, 18 U.S.C. § 242 does
not create a private civil cause of action. Houck v. Ball, No. 12-6301, 2013 WL
541074, at *1 (10th Cir. Feb. 14, 2013) (citing Robinson v. Overseas Military
Sales Corp., 21 F.3d 502, 511 (2d Cir. 1994)); see also Henry v. Albuquerque
Police Dep’t, 49 F. App’x 272, 273 (10th Cir. 2002) (“claims arising under
18 U.S.C. §§ 241 and 242 . . . do not provide for a private civil cause of action”).
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We therefore AFFIRM the judgment of the district court.
ENTERED FOR THE COURT
PER CURIAM
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