Afewerki v. Judge in Sacramento
- Vince Chhabria
- 3:24-cv-03992
- U.S. District Court · Northern District of California
- 1
In Robel Afewerki v. Judge in Sacramento, Judge Chhabria dismissed the complaint for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction because no cognizable claim could be discerned.
Robel Afewerki’s complaint against Judge in Sacramento and the other named defendants was dismissed for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction.
What happened
Robel Afewerki sued Judge in Sacramento and others, but the opinion does not describe the complaint’s specific allegations or requested relief.
The court said it could not discern any legally recognizable claim and that the complaint appeared wholly frivolous. It therefore concluded that the court lacked authority to hear the case.
Judge Vince Chhabria dismissed the complaint for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction on July 11, 2024.
The detailed version
- Afewerki v. Judge in Sacramento · No. 3:24-cv-03992
- Vince Chhabria
- July 11, 2024
Background
Robel Afewerki filed a complaint against Judge in Sacramento and other defendants. The opinion does not explain the complaint’s factual allegations, legal claims, or requested relief.
Court’s reasoning
The court dismissed the complaint for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction, meaning the court concluded it lacked legal authority to hear the matter. It said that no cognizable cause of action—a legally recognizable claim—could be discerned from the complaint. The court also said the complaint appeared to be wholly frivolous. Citing Steel Co. v. Citizens for a Better Environment, the court explained that jurisdiction is absent when a claim is wholly insubstantial and frivolous or is clearly immaterial and made only to obtain jurisdiction.
Disposition
Judge Vince Chhabria ordered the complaint dismissed for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction. The opinion does not state whether the dismissal was with or without prejudice.
Read the full 1-page opinion on CourtListener, the free public archive maintained by the Free Law Project.