Enriquez
Victor David Enriquez v. John Elsworth, et al.
Opinion
Trial Court Opinion
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 5 VICTOR DAVID ENRIQUEZ, 1233478, Case No. 25-cv-11016-CRB (PR)
Plaintiff,
ORDER OF DISMISSAL
v.
JOHN ELSWORTH, et al., Defendant(s).
Plaintiff, a pretrial detainee facing state criminal charges in San Mateo County Superior Court, has filed a pro se complaint under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 alleging that his court-appointed “private defender” John Elsworth denied him his constitutional right to call the main defense witness in the criminal case against him. Plaintiff seeks injunctive relief/federal court intervention and damages from Elsworth and the Private Defender Program (PDP). DISCUSSION A. Standard of Review Federal courts must engage in a preliminary screening of cases in which prisoners seek redress from a governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). The court must identify cognizable claims or dismiss the complaint, or any portion of the complaint, if the complaint “is…