981 F. 2d 1258 - Ellington v. Becker

MEMORANDUM**

Joel W. Ellington appeals pro se the district court's dismissal of his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action. The district court abstained from reviewing Ellington's claim pursuant to Younger v. Harris, 401 U.S. 37 (1970). We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291, and we affirm.

We review de novo the district court's dismissal of a section 1983 action under the Younger abstention doctrine. Keneally v. Lungren, 967 F.2d 329, 331 (9th Cir.1992).

Barring exceptional circumstances, a federal court will not intervene in an ongoing state criminal prosecution. Younger, 401 U.S. at 37. Three requirements must be satisfied before a federal court can invoke the Younger abstention doctrine: (1) ongoing state judicial proceedings; (2) implication of an important state interest in the proceedings; and (3) an adequate opportunity to raise federal questions in the proceedings. Keneally, 967 F.2d at 331. "When a case falls within the proscription of Younger, a district court must dismiss the federal action." Fresh Int'l Corp. v. Agricultural Labor Relations Bd., 805 F.2d 1353, 1356 (9th Cir.1986).

Here, Ellington, facing state criminal prosecution in the state of Nevada, rejected court appointed counsel and moved the state trial court to allow him to represent himself. The state court denied his motion. Ellington filed his section 1983 action in the district court arguing that the state court's denial of his motion deprived him of his sixth amendment rights.

Ellington's action satisfies the three prongs necessary to invoke the Younger abstention doctrine: (1) he appeals a decision from an ongoing state criminal prosecution; (2) the criminal prosecution implicates an important state interest; and (3) the state criminal prosecution presents Ellington with an opportunity to raise the question of whether his sixth amendment rights were violated. See Keneally, 967 F.2d at 331. Accordingly, the district court properly dismissed Ellington's action.

AFFIRMED.