ALFORD v. MERIT SYSTEMS PROTECTION BOARD (2019)

Mia C. Alford petitions for review of the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board’s (“MSPB”) 2016 decision dismissing as barred by the doctrine of laches Alford’s appeal of her 1996 termination of employment from the Drug Enforcement Administration. For cases, like this one, that include at least one claim that the employer violated a federal antidiscrimination statute, petitions for review of an MSPB decision must be made to the appropriate district court. See Kloeckner v. Solis, 568 U.S. 41, 50, 133 S.Ct. 596, 184 L.Ed.2d 433 (2012). Accordingly, this petition should have been filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina.

We decline to transfer the petition because we do not find that a transfer is in the interest of justice. See 28 U.S.C. § 1631 (2012). Not only is the petition untimely, 5 U.S.C. § 7703(b)(2) (2012), but the district court has also already considered and rejected the claims Alford raises here, Alford v. Rosenberg, No. 7:16-cv-00376-D (E.D.N.C. May 2, 2019). Accordingly, we dismiss the petition for lack of jurisdiction. We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before the court and argument would not aid the decisional process.

PETITION DISMISSED

PER CURIAM:

Petition dismissed by unpublished per curiam opinion. Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.