Bruce v. 9th Jud Dist Ct

Case: 25-30730 Document: 31-1 Page: 1 Date Filed: 08/06/2026

United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ____________ United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit No. 25-30730 Summary Calendar FILED ____________ August 6, 2026 Lyle W. Cayce Robert F. Bruce, Clerk Plaintiff—Appellant, versus 9th Judicial District Court, Defendant—Appellee. ______________________________ Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana USDC No. 1:23-CV-1110 ______________________________ Before Davis, Richman, and Oldham, Circuit Judges.

Per Curiam: * Plaintiff-Appellant Robert Bruce sued the 9th Judicial District Court (JDC) for the Parish of Rapides, Louisiana. He alleged the court mishandled his property-damage case, violated his constitutional rights, and failed to accommodate his vision impairment.

Case: 25-30730 Document: 31-1 Page: 2 Date Filed: 08/06/2026

No. 25-30730

The district court dismissed pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) because the 9th JDC is not a proper defendant under our decision in McLin v. Twenty-First Judicial District. 1 There, we held that Louisiana district courts are not separate juridical entities under Louisiana law and therefore “lack[] the capacity to be sued.” 2 Rather, such courts are “part of the greater body of the Judicial Branch of Louisiana’s state government.” 3 We further held that allowing the plaintiff to amend to name Louisiana itself as a defendant would be futile because any such suit would be barred by Eleventh Amendment Immunity. 4 Bruce does not address this dispositive issue in his brief on appeal, nor does he request leave to amend to name a different defendant. Instead, he only reiterates the factual allegations made in his complaint. Bruce has thus forfeited appellate review. 5 And regardless, we find the district court correctly applied the law and dismissed the case.

AFFIRMED.