Rojas v. California Department of Correction and Rehabilitation

Background

Robert Eugene Rojas, a California prisoner proceeding without a lawyer, filed a civil-rights complaint under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR). He alleged that a wide variety of conditions at San Quentin State Prison, California State Prison, Sacramento, and the California Medical Facility violated his constitutional rights. CDCR was the sole defendant. The court separately granted Rojas permission to proceed without paying the filing fee.

Screening standard

Because Rojas was a prisoner suing a governmental entity, the court conducted the preliminary review required by 28 U.S.C. § 1915A. That law requires dismissal of claims that are frivolous, malicious, fail to state a claim for relief, or seek money from a defendant legally immune from such relief. The court also explained that a § 1983 claim requires an alleged violation of a federal constitutional or statutory right by a person acting under state law.

Ruling

The court held that the Eleventh Amendment bars federal-court suits against CDCR. Because CDCR was the only defendant, Rojas could not bring his claims against it in federal court. The court dismissed the case for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, ordered the clerk to enter judgment, and directed that the file be closed. The opinion does not state whether the dismissal was with or without prejudice.