Charlotte A. Scott, Plaintiff-appellant, v. Johnny Morrison; S. Lee Morris; Salvage Delacy Stith,defendants-appellees, 995 F.2d 1064 (4th Cir. 1993)

OPINION

Charlotte A. Scott appeals the district court's order dismissing her 42 U.S.C. § 1983 (1988) complaint. Scott alleges that her constitutional rights were violated because she was not allowed to present certain evidence at the state court hearing, and although she was indigent, she was denied a waiver of Virginia's bond requirement for civil appeals. Scott named her former landlord, S. Delacy Stith, and state court judges Johnny Morrison and S. Lee Morris as defendants.

Scott's first claim is without merit. Federal courts do not have the authority to order state courts to alter a judgment. District of Columbia Court of Appeals v. Feldman, 460 U.S. 462, 483 (1983). Scott's proper avenue of relief is in the state judicial system. As for her second claim, a general bond requirement for civil appeals is not unconstitutional. Cf. Lindsey v. Nourmet, 405 U.S. 56, 74-78 (1972).^* 

Therefore, we affirm the district court's order dismissing Scott's complaint. We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before the Court and argument would not aid the decisional process.

AFFIRMED