Henderson v. Sneed

United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida

Henderson v. Sneed

Trial Court Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA TAMPA DIVISION

JOSHUA DOUGLAS HENDERSON, Plaintiff, v. CASE NO. 8:25-cv-2238-SDM-TGW JUDGE JULIE S. SNEED,

Defendant. /

ORDER Henderson files a paper captioned “Motion for Injunction or Restraining Order,” in which he complains about Judge Sneed’s rulings in his civil rights action in Henderson v. Scr’y, Dep’t of Corr., 6:24-cv-1681-JSS-RMN. Henderson’s inmate account statement (Doc. 2) is construed as a motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis. The Prisoner Litigation Reform Act (“PLRA”) requires dismissal of an in forma pauperis prisoner’s action “if the allegation of poverty is untrue” or if the complaint “is frivolous or malicious, fails to state a claim on which relief may be granted, or seeks monetary relief against a defendant who is immune from such relief.”

28 U.S.C. § 1915

(e). Although entitled to a generous interpretation, Haines v. Kerner,

404 U.S. 519

(1972) (per curiam), the motion for injunctive relief, construed as a civil rights complaint, lacks merit. Henderson filed a civil rights action against the Florida Department of Corrections (“DOC”) and challenged the DOC policy regarding length of hair for inmates as a violation of his religious rights. The district court both dismissed the

complaint without prejudice for failing to state a claim for relief and denied Henderson’s motion to alter or amend a judgment. (Docs. 13 and 17 in 6:24-cv- 1681) In the present action Henderson complains that Judge Sneed both “unnecessarily delayed” ruling on his action –– as a consequence, his religious rights

were violated when DOC officials forcibly shaved his head –– and “abused her discretion for denying” leave to appeal in forma pauperis. Further, Henderson “demand[s] an injunction against Judge Julie S. Sneed for abusing public office by not judging my case impartially as a matter of law.” (Doc. 1 at 8) Henderson’s remedy for reviewing Judge Sneed’s rulings in the earlier action is an appeal from

that action, which appeal Henderson filed and which pends in the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals under case number 25-10432. Henderson fails to state a claim that he can pursue in a separate action. As shown above, Henderson fails to state a claim for relief. Amendment of

the action would prove futile because Henderson can state no valid Section 1983 claim for relief. See Bryant v. Dupree,

252 F.3d 1161

, 1163 (11th Cir. 2001) (“A district court need not, however, allow an amendment (1) where there has been undue delay, bad faith, dilatory motive, or repeated failure to cure deficiencies by amendments previously allowed; (2) where allowing amendment would cause undue prejudice to the opposing party; or (3) where amendment would be futile.”’). The complaint (Doc. 1) is DISMISSED under

28 U.S.C. § 1915

(e) for failing to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. The construed motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis (Doc. 2) is DENIED AS MOOT. The clerk must enter a judgment of dismissal against Henderson and CLOSE this case. ORDERED in Tampa, Florida, on August 22, 2025. ML Wirrryeliny STEVEND.MERRYDAY □□ UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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