Filed Date: March 2, 1972
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In 1970, plaintiffs filed a class action pro se seeking declaratory and injunctive relief against the enforcement of jail regulations restricting inmates' use and possession of legal materials in Bexar County Jail. Over the next several years, litigation continued and plaintiffs appealed several decisions of the district court for the Western District of Texas. In 1977, the district court (Judge Adrian A. Spears) refused to grant class certification and determined that the entire case was moot because the named plaintiffs were no longer incarcerated in the jail; plaintiffs appealed. In 1980, the Fifth Circuit reversed the district court's decision and remanded for the district to consider the merits of plaintiffs' claims. Cruz v. Hauck, 627 F.2d 710 (5th Cir. 1980). Plaintiffs ultimately succeeded and won an injunction that required defendants to implement a set of rules and policies meant to provide inmates meaningful access to legal materials. Subsequent litigation continued regarding attorney's fees. Cruz v. Hauck, 762 F.2d 1230 (5th Cir. 1985). The docket for this case is not available on PACER, and therefore our information ends with the last reported decision in 1985.
Summary Authors
Lauren Cutson (5/26/2005)
Higginbotham, Patrick Errol (Texas)
Cruz, Frances Tuckerman Freeman Jalet (Texas)
Duke, Lonnie W. (District of Columbia)
Hernandez, George B. Jr. (Texas)
Hitchings, Barry P. (Texas)
Higginbotham, Patrick Errol (Texas)
Johnson, Samuel D. Jr. (Texas)
Reavley, Thomas Morrow (Texas)
Tate, Albert Jr. (Louisiana)
Thornberry, William Homer (Texas)
Last updated March 29, 2024, 3 a.m.
Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.State / Territory: Texas
Case Type(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: March 2, 1972
Case Ongoing: No reason to think so
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Plaintiffs are inmates of the Bexar County Jail.
Public Interest Lawyer: Unknown
Filed Pro Se: Yes
Class Action Sought: Yes
Class Action Outcome: Granted
Defendants
Bexar County Jail (Bexar), County
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Constitutional Clause(s):
Due Process: Procedural Due Process
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Plaintiff
Nature of Relief:
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief:
Order Duration: 1970 - None
Issues
General:
Access to lawyers or judicial system
Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:
Type of Facility: