United States Eighth Circuit

The Rooker-Feldman doctrine does not bar federal claims brought in federal court when a state court previously presented with the same claims declined to reach their merits. Thus the district court erred in holding it lacked jurisdiction to consider claims by five members of a Quorum Court alleging that their incarceration, following their refusal to vote in favor of a certain county ordinance, violated their federal civil rights.

Appellate Information

• Decided 01/13/2004
• Published 01/13/2004

Judges

• BYE, Circuit Judge., Before BYE, HANSEN, and RILEY, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Eighth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• James F. Valley, argued, Helena, AR, for appellant.


• For Appellees:
  
• Timothy Gauge, argued, Little Rock, AR, for appellee.