Robert A. Smith, Plaintiff-appellant, v. Shirleen Ferrier, Small Claim Court Process Supervisor;carol Miller, Justice Center; Michael Glisson,court Process Supervisor, Criminalsupport and Theo White,defendants-appellees, 83 F.3d 429 (9th Cir. 1996)

MEMORANDUM^** 

Robert Smith, a California state prisoner, appeals pro se the district court's dismissal of his civil rights action alleging that Sacramento County Superior Court employees Shirleen Ferrier and Michael Glisson violated Smith's First Amendment Rights by interfering with his attempts to file an action in small claims court. Smith sought an order compelling the state court to adjudicate his small claims action. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and affirm.

Federal courts are without power to direct state courts or their judicial officers how to perform their duties. Demos v. United States District Court, 925 F.2d 1160, 1161 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 498 U.S. 1123 (1991); see also Sully v. Lungren, 842 F. Supp. 1230, 1231 (N.D. Cal. 1994) ("A petition to compel a state court to take or refrain from some action ... is frivolous as a matter of law."). Accordingly, the district court properly dismissed Smith's action as frivolous. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(d).

AFFIRMED.