New Mexico v. Crumbley

District Court, D. New Mexico·Decided October 29, 2021·No. 2:21-cv-00910·Unknown

Opinion

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF NEW MEXICO STATE OF NEW MEXICO, Plaintiff,

vs. No. CIV 21-00910 JB/GBW SHANON CRUMBLEY, Defendant. MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER THIS MATTER comes before the Court, under 28 U.S.C. § 1443, on the Defendant’s Notice of Removal, filed September 15, 2021 (Doc. 1),1 and on Defendant’s Answer to Order to Show Cause on Notice of Removal, filed October 15, 2021 (Doc. 8)(“Response”). Defendant Shanon Crumbley appears pro se. For the reasons set out below, the Court will remand this case to Bayard Magistrate Court, Grant County, State of New Mexico. PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

Plaintiff State of New Mexico filed a criminal complaint on August 31, 2021, in Bayard Magistrate Court, Grant County, State of New Mexico, charging Crumbley with aggravated stalking. See Notice of Removal ¶¶ 1-2, at 1. In her Notice of Removal, Crumbley states: “The Criminal Complaint references a state crime 30-3A-3.1(A)(1) Aggravated Stalking (Violation of Protective Order)(Second or Subsequent Offense) which federal courts retain subject matter jurisdiction through the respective federal crime 18 U.S.C. § 2261A --Stalking.” Notice of

1Crumbley attached her Complaint for Violation of Civil Rights and Request for Injunctions (“Complaint”) to her Notice of Removal. See Notice of Removal, filed September 15, 2021 (Doc. 1-1). The Clerk’s Office filed Crumbley’s Complaint in a separate action. See Crumbley v. Stewart, No. CIV 21-00916 KRS, 2021 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 198283 (D.N.M. Oct. 13, 2021). Removal ¶ 2, at 1. Crumbley did not include a copy of the criminal complaint with her Notice of Removal. Magistrate Judge Gregory B. Wormuth, United States Magistrate Judge for the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, obtained a copy of the criminal complaint, which is attached to the Memorandum Opinion and Order, 2021 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 183071, filed

September 24, 2021 (Doc. 7)(“Order to Show Cause”)(Wormuth, M.J.). The “federal crime 18 U.S.C. § 2261A -- Stalking” does not appear on the face of the criminal complaint, nor does any other federal issue which might give the Court jurisdiction over this matter. Crumbley removed the case, No. M-20-FR-202100068, from Bayard Magistrate Court to this Court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1443. Section 1443 provides: Any of the following civil actions or criminal prosecutions, commenced in a State court may be removed by the defendant to the district court of the United States for the district and division embracing the place wherein it is pending:

(1) Against any person who is denied or cannot enforce in the courts of such State a right under any law providing for the equal civil rights of citizens of the United States, or of all persons within the jurisdiction thereof;

(2) For any act under color of authority derived from any law providing for equal rights, or for refusing to do any act on the ground that it would be inconsistent with such law.

28 U.S.C. § 1443. Magistrate Judge Wormuth notified Crumbley that: The first provision, 28 U.S.C. § 1443(1), permits removal of criminal prosecutions “[a]gainst any person who is denied or cannot enforce in the courts of [the] State a right under any law providing for the equal civil rights of citizens of the United States, or of all persons within the jurisdiction thereof.” Removal is available only when the defendant can claim rights under a law providing for specific civil rights in terms of racial equality . . . The statute does not authorize removal to protect the broad guarantees of the constitution.

New Mexico v. Torres, 461 F.2d 342, 343 (10th Cir. 1972)(per curiam)(internal quotation marks and citations omitted); see also Wisconsin v. Glick, 782 F.2d 670, 672 (7th Cir. 1986)(“A ‘law providing for the equal rights’ means, in § 1443(1), a law guaranteeing racial equality”)(quoting Georgia v. Rachel, 384 U.S. 780, 786- 94, 86 S.Ct. 1783, 1786–91, 16 L.Ed.2d 925 (1966))).

As for 28 U.S.C. § 1443(2), its purpose “is to provide a federal forum for suits against state officers who uphold equal protection in the face of strong public disapproval.” Greenberg v. Veteran, 889 F.2d 418, 421 (2d Cir. 1989)(“The purpose of the ‘refusal clause’ [28 U.S.C. § 1443(2)]); see also Detroit Police Lieutenants and Sergeants Ass’n v. City of Detroit, 597 F.2d 566, 568 (6th Cir. 1979)(“The first clause [of 28 U.S.C. § 1443(2)], “for any act under color of authority derived from any law providing for equal rights . . .” has been examined by the Supreme Court and held available only to federal officers and to persons assisting such officers in the performance of their official duties.” (quoting City of Greenwood v. Peacock, 384 U.S. 808, 815 (1966))).

It appears that this action should be remanded to Bayard Magistrate Court, Grant County, for lack of jurisdiction. See 28 U.S.C. § 1447(c) (“If at any time before final judgment it appears that the district court lacks subject matter jurisdiction, the case shall be remanded”). Defendant does not claim rights under a law providing for specific civil rights in terms of racial equality. See doc. 1 at 7, ¶ 20 (stating that the justification for removal “is not racial inequality but . . . social economic inequality that is inherent in this small-town local authority, they [referring to the Sixth Judicial District Attorney, several state judges in that district, and persons alleged to have committed crimes against Defendant and taken her property] all grew up together in a little community with friends and family that are long standing political contributors.”). Nor does Defendant claim to be a federal or state officer or assisting federal officers in the performance of their duties.

Order to Show Cause at 4-5. Magistrate Judge Wormuth ordered Crumbley to show cause why the Court should not remand this case to Bayard Magistrate Court, Grant County, for lack of jurisdiction. Order to Show Cause at 5-6. Crumbley argues that: my constitutional rights, privileges and immunities have been and are being deprived by officials acting under color of law. This court is my last resource for justice to be served and this malicious attack against me to be taken under control. State and local government are reluctant to take action against their own, just like all the lawyers I have reached out to immediately decline when I speak about corruption.

Response at 1. Crumbley “ask[s] for relief from this charge by dismissing it because it is a false allegation this is malicious and vindictive prosecution.” Response at 8.

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