David Bookman v. United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

DLD-011 NOT PRECEDENTIAL
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
___________
No. 11-3161
___________
DAVID BOOKMAN,
Appellant
v.
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA
____________________________________
On Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
(D.C. Civil No. 2-11-cv-03920)
District Judge: Honorable Petrese B. Tucker
____________________________________
Submitted for Possible Summary Action Pursuant to
Third Circuit LAR 27.4 and I.O.P. 10.6
October 14, 2011
Before: AMBRO, JORDAN and VANASKIE, Circuit Judges
(Opinion filed: November 3, 2011 )
_________________
OPINION
_________________
PER CURIAM.
On June 14, 2011, David Bookman, a Pennsylvania state inmate, filed a pleading
styled as a “petition for mandamus,” claiming that the District Court erred when it failed
to make a de novo determination after Bookman filed objections to a Report and

-- 1 of 2 --

2
Recommendation in his habeas corpus proceeding under 28 U.S.C. § 2254. According to
Bookman, the District Court denied the habeas petition (which was docketed at E.D. Pa.
Civ. No. 08-cv-05407) without a de novo review under 28 U.S.C. § 636(b), and thereby
denied Bookman due process and equal protection of the law.
The District Court dismissed the “petition for mandamus” sua sponte, noting that
its order in the habeas case reflects that it considered Bookman’s objections and approved
of the Report and Recommendation after “careful and independent consideration of the
petition.” Further, the District Court denied Bookman’s motion for reconsideration in the
habeas case, and also denied his “Rule 60(b)” motion in which he raised the same
argument about a purported lack of de novo review. Bookman timely filed this appeal.
We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and will affirm. There is no record
support for Bookman’s contention that the District Court failed to conduct a proper
review after he filed objections to the Report and Recommendation in his habeas case.
Furthermore, this Court denied a certificate of appealability in the habeas case, explaining
that Bookman did not make a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right
on any of his claims. See C.A. No. 10-1507 (order entered May 26, 2010). In short,
Bookman’s claim that he was deprived of due process or equal protection in the habeas
case is without merit, and his purported “petition for mandamus,” therefore, was properly
dismissed. We will summarily affirm the District Court’s judgment. See 3d Cir. LAR
27.4. Bookman’s motion for summary action is denied.

-- 2 of 2 --