JEFFERS v. LYONS (2020)

Patrick Timothy Jeffers appeals the district court's order dismissing his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 (2018) complaint under 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b) (2018). We have reviewed the record and affirm for the reasons stated by the district court with one exception. We conclude that the district court erred in dismissing Jeffers’ excessive force claim by construing it as a Fourteenth Amendment violation instead of analyzing it under the Fourth Amendment. See Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386, 395, 109 S.Ct. 1865, 104 L.Ed.2d 443 (1989). Nevertheless, we affirm the district court's dismissal of this claim because Jeffers fails to state a valid excessive force claim under the Fourth Amendment. See Kerr v. Marshall Univ. Bd. of Governors, 824 F.3d 62, 75 n.13 (4th Cir. 2016) (recognizing that this court “may affirm on any grounds supported by the record”).

On appeal, Jeffers also contends that the district court judge should have recused himself. Because Jeffers did not move the district court for recusal, we review his claim only for plain error. See United States v. Minard, 856 F.3d 555, 557 (8th Cir. 2017) (stating standard of review). Jeffers fails to establish that recusal was required. See Belue v. Leventhal, 640 F.3d 567, 572-74 (4th Cir. 2011) (judicial rulings are rarely valid basis for bias or partiality motion). Thus, the district court's failure to recuse did not amount to error, plain or otherwise.

Accordingly, we affirm. We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before this court and argument would not aid the decisional process.

AFFIRMED

PER CURIAM:

Affirmed by unpublished per curiam opinion. Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.