Malone v. 107th District Court

CourtDistrict Court, S.D. Texas
DecidedFebruary 4, 2025
Docket1:24-cv-00175
StatusUnknown

This text of Malone v. 107th District Court (Malone v. 107th District Court) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Malone v. 107th District Court, (S.D. Tex. 2025).

Opinion

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT February 04, 2025 FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS Nathan Ochsner, Clerk BROWNSVILLE DIVISION JOHN JEFFREY MALONE, § Plaintiff, § § v. § CIVIL ACTION NO. 1:24-cv-175 § 107th DISTRICT COURT, § Defendant. § REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION FOR SUA SPONTE DISMISSAL I. Synopsis John Jeffrey Malone was incarcerated in Cameron County, Texas, for approximately 575 days on a criminal case that was already dismissed. After the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals granted Malone’s application for habeas corpus relief for the wrongful incarceration and vacated the judgment against him, Malone was extradited to Arkansas to face other criminal charges, where he remains incarcerated. Malone now petitions this Court for monetary relief against the 107th District Court of Cameron County, Texas for his Texas imprisonment. The 107th District Court and its judicial officer enjoy absolute judicial immunity from actions taken in its judicial capacity. This Court recommends Malone’s claim be dismissed with prejudice as he cannot sue the 107th District Court for the judicial acts surrounding sentencing him to prison in Texas. II. Jurisdiction This Court has federal question subject matter jurisdiction as Plaintiff John Jeffrey Malone (“Malone”) alleges violations of 42 U.S.C. § 1983. See Dkt. No. 1; 28 U.S.C. §1331 (“The district courts shall have original jurisdiction of all civil actions arising under the Constitution, laws, or treaties of the United States.”). Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §636(b)(1), this case was referred to the undersigned United States Magistrate Judge to conduct all pretrial proceedings. Dkt. No. 7. Venue is proper in the Southern District of Texas, Brownsville Division because a substantial portion of alleged events giving rise to this lawsuit occurred in this geographical jurisdiction. See Dkt. No. 1. (alleging judicial misconduct when Cameron County District Judge sentenced Plaintiff to prison on previously dismissed charges.); 28 U.S.C. §1391(b)(2) (noting that a civil action may be brought in the judicial district where “a substantial part of the events or omissions giving rise to the claim occurred, or a substantial part of property that is the subject of the action is situated”). III. Standard of Review Malone is currently incarcerated at Ouachita River Correction Unit operated by the Arkansas Department of Correction in Malvern, Arkansas. Dkt. No. 1. In the Prison Litigation Reform Action (“PLRA”), Congress enacted 28 U.S.C.§ 1915A, which requires a court review a complaint from a prisoner seeking relief from a governmental entity, officer, or employee as soon as possible after docketing. See U.S.C. §1915A(a). Malone is considered a prisoner.1 28 U.S.C. §1915A(c). Section 1915A allows for sua sponte (court initiated) dismissal of the complaint or any portion of the complaint if the complaint is frivolous, malicious, or fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted; or seeks monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. §1915A(b). IV. Background and Procedural History a. State Criminal Proceedings in Case No. 10-CR-0015622 The present case arrives at this Court based on proceedings in Cameron County, Texas, styled the State of Texas v. John Jeffery Malone, Case No. 10-CR-001562 from the 107th District Court. On March 3, 2011, Malone pled “no contest” to felony theft charges.

1 For purposes of 28 U.S.C. §1915A, “prisoner” is defined as “any person incarcerated or detained in any facility who is accused of, convicted of, sentenced for, or adjudicated delinquent for, violations of criminal law or the terms and conditions of parole, probation, pretrial release, or diversionary program.”

2 As a matter of public record, the Court takes judicial notice of the docket in Malone’s state court criminal proceedings. See Taylor v. Charter Med. Corp., 162 F.3d 827, 831 (5th Cir. 1998). The docket sheet and related entries in Case No. 10-CR-001562 are attached to this Report and Recommendation as Exhibit 1. See Website for Cameron County District Clerk’s Office, available at https://portal.co.cameron.tx.us/PortalProd/ (last visited on January 28, 2025). Ex. 1, p. 6. On March 28, 2011, Malone was sentenced to ten years deferred adjudication probation pursuant to a plea agreement. Ex. 1, pp. 6-7. On March 21, 2012, a Motion to Revoke Malone’s Deferred Adjudication Probation was filed, and his arrest was ordered by the 107th District Court. Ex. 1, p. 8. On October 12, 2016, the State of Texas filed a Motion to Dismiss Malone’s case because he was convicted in Arkansas to thirty years in prison. Ex. 1, pp. 9-10. The next day, the 107th District Court notes “Order of Dismissal, signed for entry. **Capias recalled @ Warrants.” Ex. 1, p. 10. In November 2016, the record indicates the filing of a “Second Motion to Have Warrant Recalled” and a copy of the dismissal is mailed to Malone in custody. Ex. 1, p. 10. About three years later, on August 22, 2019, the State of Texas filed a Motion to Adjudicate and a warrant for Malone’s arrest is issued. Ex. 1, p. 10. Thereafter, the 107th District Court appoints counsel to represent Malone. Ex. 1, pp. 10-11. At the next hearing, Malone’s counsel requests a continuance “to find some documentation that will assist his client,” and the case is reset for October 30, 2019. Ex. 1, p. 11. On October 30, 2019, the 107th District Court notes that at the Motion to Adjudicate hearing of Malone’s deferred adjudication probation “Defendant pled True. All allegations found to be True. Defendant adjudicated guilty of: Theft (Aggregation). Punishment assessed by the court at: Ten (10) Years – TDCJ/ID, credit for time served on this case. (Court will NOT give credit for time served in Arkansas).” Ex. 1, p. 12. A Motion for Reconsideration previously filed by Malone was denied the next day. Ex. 1, p. 13. On October 2, 2020, Malone filed an Application for Writ of Habeas Corpus Seeking Relief from Final Felony Conviction Under Code of Criminal Procedure. Ex. 1, p. 13. The Clerk of Court for Cameron County, Texas then filed the administrative record with the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. Ex. 1, p. 14. On November 11, 2020, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals directed the District Clerk for Cameron County to forward missing documents to them. Dkt. No. 1-1; Ex parte Malone, No. WR-91,899-01, 2020 WL 6588445 (Tex. Crim. App Nov 11, 2020) (not designated for publication). The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals also directed the 107th District Court to making findings of fact and conclusions of law as to: (1) “whether the court dismissed the charges against Applicant [Malone] in 2016 and if so, how it proceeded to adjudicate guilt against Applicant in 2019” and (2) “whether trial counsel’s performance was deficient and Applicant would have insisted on a trial but for counsel’s alleged deficient performance.” Id. On January 13, 2021, the 107th District Court issued its Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Order. Ex. 1, p. 15.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Warnock v. Pecos County Texas
88 F.3d 341 (Fifth Circuit, 1996)
Ballard v. Wall
413 F.3d 510 (Fifth Circuit, 2005)
Dorsey v. Portfolio Equities, Inc.
540 F.3d 333 (Fifth Circuit, 2008)
Davis v. Tarrant County, Tex.
565 F.3d 214 (Fifth Circuit, 2009)
Kemp Ex Rel. Kemp v. Perkins
324 F. App'x 409 (Fifth Circuit, 2009)
Bradley v. Fisher
80 U.S. 335 (Supreme Court, 1872)
Pierson v. Ray
386 U.S. 547 (Supreme Court, 1967)
Haines v. Kerner
404 U.S. 519 (Supreme Court, 1972)
Stump v. Sparkman
435 U.S. 349 (Supreme Court, 1978)
Forrester v. White
484 U.S. 219 (Supreme Court, 1988)
Mireles v. Waco
502 U.S. 9 (Supreme Court, 1991)
Heck v. Humphrey
512 U.S. 477 (Supreme Court, 1994)
Tellabs, Inc. v. Makor Issues & Rights, Ltd.
551 U.S. 308 (Supreme Court, 2007)
James Oliver McAlester Et Ux. v. David H. Brown
469 F.2d 1280 (Fifth Circuit, 1972)
Bobby Battle v. U.S. Parole Commission
834 F.2d 419 (Fifth Circuit, 1987)
Matthew Alexander v. Verizon Wireless Services, LL
875 F.3d 243 (Fifth Circuit, 2017)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
Malone v. 107th District Court, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/malone-v-107th-district-court-txsd-2025.