United States Court of Appeals FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT _____________

No. 97-2634WM _____________

Larry Joe Richards, * * Appellant, * * v. * Appeal from the United States * District Court for the Western Donna E. Shalala; Slater, Administrative * District of Missouri. Law Judge; John Chambers, * Administrative Appeals Judge; Julia * [UNPUBLISHED] Mills, Administrative Appeals Judge, * * Appellees. * _____________

Submitted: January 27, 1998 Filed: February 5, 1998 _____________

Before FAGG, BEAM, and HANSEN, Circuit Judges. _____________

PER CURIAM.

Before reaching the merits of Larry Joe Richards's appeal, we must decide whether jurisdiction exists to review this matter. The law is well established that absent a colorable constitutional challenge federal courts generally do not have jurisdiction to review refusals to reopen claims for disability benefits. See King v. Chater, 90 F.3d 323, 325 (8th Cir. 1996). Having reviewed the record, we conclude this rule controls our review, and we thus dismiss Richards's appeal for lack of jurisdiction. See 8th Cir. R. 47B. A true copy.

Attest:

CLERK, U.S. COURT OF APPEALS, EIGHTH CIRCUIT.

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