U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, 2017

Richard Nichols v. Ron Hickman

Richard Nichols v. Ron Hickman
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit · Decided October 20, 2017 · Higginbotham, Jones, Per Curiam, Smith
699 F. App'x 330

Richard Nichols v. Ron Hickman

Opinion

PER CURIAM: *

Richard B. Nichols, a former inmate at the Harris County, Texas, jail, appeals the dismissal of his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 complaint as frivolous pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i). He requests appointment of counsel.

“[T]he timely filing of a notice of appeal in a civil case is a jurisdictional requirement.” Bowles v. Russell, 551 U.S. 205, 214, 127 S.Ct. 2360, 168 L.Ed.2d 96 (2007). In a civil matter, a notice of appeal must ■ be-filed within 30 days of entry of the judgment or order being appealed. Fed. R. App. P. 4(a)(1)(A). Nichols’s notice of appeal was not filed within that period. See id. Although his notice of appeal was filed within the 30-day period to request an extension of time based on excusable ne-gleet or good cause, see Fed. R. App, P. 4(a)(5)(A), we have not deemed it as such a request because Nichols did not provide any explanation for his untimely filing. See Henry v. Estelle, 688 F.2d 407, 407 (5th Cir. 1982).

Accordingly, the appeal is DISMISSED FOR LACK OF JURISDICTION. Nichols’s request for appointment of counsel is DENIED AS MOOT.

*

Pursuant to 5th Cir, R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cir, R. 47,5.4.

Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.