The opinion
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
FORT SMITH DIVISION
RICKY LEE FRANKLIN PLAINTIFF
V. CASE NO. 2:25-CV-2127
ALEX SELKIRK;
OFFICER TIM DAVID GOSSETT
(Greenwood Police Department);
CHIEF OF POLICE BRAD CARL HOBBS
(Greenwood Police Department);
TRAVIS PLUMMER (City Attorney);
DOUG KINSLOW (Mayor of Greenwood); and
POLICE OFFICER AYDEN BROWN
(Greenwood Police Department) DEFENDANTS
ORDER
Before the Court is the Report and Recommendation (“R&R”) (Doc. 8) filed in this
case on October 21, 2025, by the Honorable Mark E. Ford, United States Magistrate
Judge for the Western District of Arkansas. On preservice screening of the Complaint,
see 28 U.S.C. § 1915A, Magistrate Judge Ford recommends that all causes of action be
stayed and that the Court abstain from ruling pursuant to the doctrine set forth in Younger
v. Harris, 401 U.S. 37 (1971). On October 27, 2025, Plaintiff filed Objections to the R&R,
and the Court undertook a de novo review of the entire record.
Plaintiff’s Objections do not engage with the R&R’s reasoning. Instead, Plaintiff
merely expresses confusion as to why his claims must be stayed while his state court
case is ongoing. The reason is that all claims filed in this Court are intertwined with the
state criminal case. The Court agrees with the Magistrate Judge that the case at bar does
not present any extraordinary circumstances that suggest the Court should interfere with
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the state case. Moreover, the federal claims asserted here are capable of being raised in
the state case. Accordingly, it is appropriate for this Court to stay the federal claims
pending final adjudication of the state appeal. The Objections are therefore
OVERRULED.
IT IS ORDERED that the R&R is ADOPTED IN ITS ENTIRETY. The Clerk of Court
is DIRECTED to STAY and ADMINISTRATIVELY TERMINATE this case pending the
outcome of the appeal in 66GCR-25-112, City of Greenwood v. Ricky Lee Franklin.
Plaintiff is DIRECTED to immediately inform the Court when the state proceeding has
concluded.
IT IS SO ORDERED on this 10th day of November, 2025.
/s/ Timothy L. Brooks__________________
TIMOTHY L. BROOKS
CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
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