Smith v. Barnstable Superior Court

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS

CIVIL ACTION NO. 21-11262-RGS

STEVEN SMITH

v.

BARNSTABLE SUPERIOR COURT

ORDER

October 4, 2021

The instant pro se action was initiated on August 3, 2021, by the filing of a motion by Steven Smith, a pretrial detainee confined to the Barnstable County Jail. D. 1. Because Smith sought to have this court intervene in a pending state criminal action, the case was dismissed because Smith’s claims implicate the abstention doctrine under Younger v. Harris, 401 U.S. 37, 45 (1971). D. 3. Almost two months after the dismissal of this action, on October 1, 2021, Smith filed a letter complaining about the seventh attorney appointed to represent him in the state court proceedings and again complaining of the length of his pre-trial detention. D. 6. Smith’s filing in this now closed case gives the court no jurisdictional basis for reopening. Accordingly, this case remains closed.

SO ORDERED.

/s/ Richard G. Stearns UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE