Summary
The United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee adopted a magistrate judge’s report and recommendation and dismissed Kendrick Robinson’s civil-rights complaint with prejudice. The court held that the Eighth Amendment does not apply to a voluntary visitor at a federal correctional facility and found that an appeal would not be taken in good faith. The court denied leave to appeal in forma pauperis.
Court
United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee
Jurisdiction
United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee
Decision date
December 12, 2025
Docket number
2:24-cv-02940-TLP-cgc
Disposition
dismissed
Questions Presented
- Whether the magistrate judge's recommendation to dismiss Robinson's Eighth Amendment claim contained clear error.
- Whether the Eighth Amendment's Cruel and Unusual Punishments Clause protects a voluntary visitor who was not tried, convicted, or sentenced.
- Whether Robinson should be denied leave to proceed in forma pauperis on appeal because an appeal would not be taken in good faith.
Holdings
- The district court found no clear error in the magistrate judge's report and recommendation and adopted it.
- The Eighth Amendment's Cruel and Unusual Punishments Clause does not apply to a plaintiff who was merely a voluntary visitor and had not been tried, convicted, or sentenced.
- The court certified that any appeal would not be taken in good faith and denied Robinson leave to appeal in forma pauperis.
Court Document
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