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Leslie Smith v. Herbert Mayfield, Adjustment Committee Chairman Allan Brown, Adjustment Committee Member M. Cooper, Adjustment Committee Member
Citations: 37 F.3d 1499; 1994 U.S. App. LEXIS 35037; 1994 WL 532922Docket: 93-6519
Court: Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit; September 30, 1994; Federal Appellate Court
Leslie Smith, a Kentucky prisoner, appeals a district court's dismissal of his civil rights action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, claiming violations of his due process rights during a disciplinary proceeding. Smith argued that he was wrongfully found guilty based on insufficient evidence for a disciplinary violation related to failing to respond to a page, asserting that the speaker system was defective. The district court dismissed his complaint under Rule 12(b)(6), concluding that Smith's guilty finding was void due to its reversal by the warden and that Smith's claim was not actionable given the discretion afforded to prison officials. Upon appeal, the court reviewed the dismissal and determined it was appropriate for different reasons. It noted that there is no constitutional right to be free from administrative segregation, but a protected liberty interest may exist under state regulations that impose restrictions on prison officials' discretion. The court referenced prior rulings affirming that Kentucky prisoners have minimal due process rights when placed in administrative segregation. The court found that Smith received the due process mandated, including notification of charges, a hearing, and an opportunity to present his defense. It noted that the disciplinary decision was supported by "some evidence," specifically the charging officer's report. Consequently, the court affirmed the district court's judgment dismissing Smith's case.