UNPUBLISHED

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT

No. 00-2004

RAYMON REDMON HARMON, JR.,

Plaintiff - Appellant,

versus

NORMA RADAU; PAIGE M. GRIMBALL; BRENT DETER; THE BUNCOMBE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES,

Defendants - Appellees.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, at Asheville. Graham C. Mullen, Chief District Judge. (CA-99-209-MU-1-3)

Submitted: October 26, 2000 Decided: November 1, 2000

Before WIDENER, MICHAEL, and KING, Circuit Judges.

Dismissed by unpublished per curiam opinion.

Raymon Redmon Harmon, Jr., Appellant Pro Se.

Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit. See Local Rule 36(c). PER CURIAM:

Raymon Redmon Harmon, Jr., seeks to appeal the district

court’s order dismissing his

(West Supp. 2000)

complaint. We dismiss the appeal for lack of jurisdiction because

Harmon’s notice of appeal was not timely filed.

Parties are accorded thirty days after entry of the district

court’s final judgment or order to note an appeal, see Fed. R. App.

P. 4(a)(1), unless the district court extends the appeal period

under Fed. R. App. P. 4(a)(5) or reopens the appeal period under

Fed. R. App. P. 4(a)(6). This appeal period is “mandatory and

jurisdictional.” Browder v. Director, Dep’t of Corrections,

(1978) (quoting United States v. Robinson,

(1960)).

The district court’s order was entered on the docket on

December 13, 1999. Harmon’s notice of appeal was filed on July 17,

2000. Because Harmon failed to file a timely notice of appeal or

to obtain an extension or reopening of the appeal period, we

dismiss the appeal. We dispense with oral argument because the

facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the mate-

rials before the court and argument would not aid the decisional

process.

DISMISSED

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