Reported / Citable
Background
Cory Booth, a Texas Department of Criminal Justice inmate proceeding without counsel and in forma pauperis, filed a civil lawsuit alleging constitutional violations. The matter was referred to a magistrate judge under 28 U.S.C. § 636(b).
On July 15, 2026, the magistrate judge recommended dismissing the complaint for failure to state a claim under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915A(b) and 1915(e)(2)(B), as well as 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(c). Booth received the report on July 20 but filed no written objections.
The Court’s Holding
District Judge J. Campbell Barker accepted the magistrate judge’s report and recommendation and dismissed the case with prejudice. Because neither party objected, the court reviewed the recommendation only for clear error.
The court found no clear error in the report’s findings or recommended disposition. It therefore dismissed Booth’s lawsuit for failure to state a claim.
Key Takeaways
- A prisoner complaint may be dismissed at screening when it fails to state a claim.
- Absent objections to a magistrate judge’s report and recommendation, the district court applied clear-error review.
- The dismissal was with prejudice.
Why It Matters
The order illustrates the consequences of failing to object to a magistrate judge’s recommendation in a prisoner civil-rights action. With no objections and no clear error found, the district court adopted the recommended screening dismissal in full.