Case Explained: Elizabeth J. Martin v. Chief Disciplinary Counsel of Missouri; Chief Judge Mary R. Russell

Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit Filed: 2026-08-10 The eighth-circuit affirmed the district court’s dismissal of Elizabeth Martin’s pro se civil rights action alleging violations stemming from the Missouri Supreme Court’s suspension of her law license. Applying de novo review, the court held that the district court correctly lacked subject matter jurisdiction under the Rooker-Feldman doctrine because Martin’s claims alleged an injury arising directly from a state-court judgment and sought to overturn that judgment. The court further determined that it would not consider new claims Martin attempted to raise in her opposition to the motion to dismiss, as such issues were not properly preserved for appeal. Consequently, the district court’s dismissal order stands, and no relief is granted to the appellant. Do It For The Case Law is a news reporting service. Nothing in this episode constitutes legal advice.