STEVEN KNOX v. KATE BROWN (2017)

MEMORANDUM*

Oregon state prisoner Steven Knox appeals pro se from the district court's judgment in his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action alleging constitutional claims arising from the denial of parole. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review de novo. ReadyLink Healthcare, Inc. v. State Comp. Ins. Fund, 754 F.3d 754, 758 (9th Cir. 2014) (abstention under Younger v. Harris, 401 U.S. 37 (1971)); Beets v. County of Los Angeles, 669 F.3d 1038, 1041 (9th Cir. 2012) (dismissal under Heck v. Humphrey, 512 U.S. 477, 478 (1994)). We affirm.

The district court properly dismissed without prejudice Claims One and Three challenging defendants' deferral of Knox's parole release date because success on these claims would necessarily demonstrate the invalidity of Knox's confinement or its duration, and Knox failed to allege that his conviction or sentence has been invalidated. See Wilkinson v. Dotson, 544 U.S. 74, 80-82 (2005) (a prisoner's § 1983 claim is barred if success “would necessarily demonstrate the invalidity of confinement or its duration[,]” unless “the conviction or sentence has already been invalidated” (citation and internal quotation marks omitted)). Contrary to Knox's contentions, Claims One and Three did not allege procedural challenges that would “not necessarily spell immediate or speedier release.” Id. at 81.

The district court properly dismissed without prejudice Claim Two under the Younger abstention doctrine because the district court was required to abstain from interfering with Knox's pending state court appeal, as all of the requirements for abstention were met, and no exception to abstention applied. See ReadyLink Healthcare, Inc., 754 F.3d at 758-59 (setting forth requirements for Younger abstention in civil cases); Baffert v. Cal. Horse Racing Bd., 332 F.3d 613, 617, 621 (9th Cir. 2003) (explaining exceptions to Younger and concluding that claimed constitutional violation “does not, by itself, constitute an exception to the application of Younger abstention”).

The district court did not abuse its discretion by denying Knox's motion for reconsideration because Knox failed to state any grounds warranting relief. See Sch. Dist. No. 1J, Multnomah Cty., Or. v. ACandS, Inc., 5 F.3d 1255, 1262-63 (9th Cir. 1993) (setting forth standard of review and grounds for relief under Fed. R. Civ. P. 59(e)).

In light of this disposition, we do not consider the merits of Knox's claims, and do not reach the question of whether denial of Knox's motions for a preliminary injunction was proper. See Santa Monica Nativity Scenes Comm. v. City of Santa Monica, 784 F.3d 1286, 1291 n.1 (9th Cir. 2015).

Knox's requests for judicial notice regarding defense counsel's action in state court proceedings, set forth in his reply brief and in Docket Entry No. 32, are denied.

Knox's request for an order barring defendants' appearance at oral argument (Docket Entry No. 35) is denied as unnecessary.

AFFIRMED.