William Lebron Church, Plaintiff-appellant, v. Commonwealth of Virginia, Department of Corrections, Edwardw. Murray, R.m. Muncy, Defendants-appellees, 878 F.2d 379 (4th Cir. 1989)

William L. Church appeals the district court's order dismissing this 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action for failure to demonstrate administrative exhaustion. Acting pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1997e, the district court ordered appellant to exhaust administrative remedies and to advise the court within 100 days of the result of the administrative proceedings. It warned appellant that failure to advise the court regarding exhaustion would result in dismissal of the action. The district court dismissed the case without prejudice upon expiration of the 100 day period, appellant not having complied with its order.

The district court could properly require exhaustion of administrative remedies under 42 U.S.C. § 1997e. Its dismissal of the action, without prejudice, when appellant failed to comply with its order was not an abuse of discretion. We therefore deny leave to proceed in forma pauperis and dismiss the appeal. We dispense with oral argument because the dispositive issues have recently been decided authoritatively.

DISMISSED.