Carter v. Lehman

¶1MEMORANDUM …

¶2Washington state prisoner Lonnie Ray Carter appeals pro se from the district court’s summary judgment in his 42 U.S.C. *114§ 1983 action alleging defendant violated his due process rights by failing to release him into community custody. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review de novo, Sorrels v. McKee, 290 F.3d 965, 969 (9th Cir.2002), and we may affirm on any ground supported by the record, Vestar Dev. II, LLC v. Gen. Dynamics Corp., 249 F.3d 958, 960 (9th Cir.2001). We vacate and remand for the limited purpose of entering a judgment dismissing the action with prejudice.

¶3The district court erred in dismissing this action without prejudice pursuant to Heck v. Humphrey, 512 U.S. 477, 114 S.Ct. 2364, 129 L.Ed.2d 383 (1994), because Carter’s action did not seek relief that, if granted, would necessarily shorten or invalidate his community custody term. See Wilkinson v. Dotson, 544 U.S. 74, 81-82, 125 S.Ct. 1242, 161 L.Ed.2d 253 (2005).

¶4Even if Carter had a liberty interest in community custody placement giving rise to due process protections, Carter failed to show actions taken pursuant to his 2002 application for community placement on his earned early release date violated clearly established law. See Sorrels, 290 F.3d at 970-71 (discussing qualified immunity defense requirements); see also In re Liptrap, 127 Wash.App. 463, 111 P.3d 1227 (2005). Accordingly, the district court properly granted summary judgment. See Sorrels, 290 F.3d at 971-72.

¶5Carter’s remaining contentions lack merit.

¶6We remand for the limited purpose of entering a judgment of dismissal with prejudice.

¶7The parties shall bear their own costs on appeal.

¶8VACATED and REMANDED.