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Theodore Justice v. McAngus Goudelock & Courie LLC, et al.
IFP petition · United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, No. 25-1241 · judgment June 20, 2025
Question presented
I. Whether federal appellate courts may dismiss 42 U.S.C. § 1983 constitutional claims through procedural limitations when the underlying due process violation is established by opposing counsel's sworn judicial admission of notice failure under Mullane v. Central Hanover Bank & Trust Co., 339 U.S. 306 (1950). Jenkins v. Woodard, 109 F.4th 242 (4th Cir. 2024) (reversing dismissal of pro se § 1983 claims and requiring accommodation for constitutional violations); Axon Enter., Inc. v. FTC, 598 U.S. 175 (2023) (procedural schemes cannot categorically prevent constitutional review); Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519 (1972) (pro se pleadings held to less stringent standards). II. Whether state court orders entered without subject matter jurisdiction that restrict constitutional rights of access to courts violate the Due Process Clause when subsequently relied upon by federal courts to dismiss civil rights claims. See Bell v. Burson, 402 U.S. 535 (1971) (due process requires proper procedural safeguards before termination of protected interests); Monroe v. Pape, 365 U.S. 167 (1961) (§ 1983 provides federal remedy when state processes inadequate). III. Whether the constitutional right of access to courts prohibits federal courts from creating categorical barriers to review of multiple undisputed constitutional violations, including jurisdictional defects and notice failures admitted by opposing counsel. See Boddie v. Connecticut, 401 U.S. 371 (1971) (fundamental right of access to courts cannot be denied through procedural barriers); Lewis v. Casey, 518 U.S. 343 (1996) (meaningful access to courts is constitutional touchstone); Tennessee v. Lane, 541 U.S. 509 (2004) (systematic barriers to court access violate constitutional rights). 2 |Page
Counsel of record
For petitioner
Theodore Justice
For respondent
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Case
Conference history
Distributed for 1 conference
Proceedings
- Oct 14 2025Petition DENIED.
- Sep 25 2025DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 10/10/2025.
- Aug 05 2025Supplemental brief of petitioner Theodore Justice filed.
- Aug 04 2025Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due September 8, 2025)