Case: Nichols v. Hopper

2:86-cv-00461 | U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama

Filed Date: May 2, 1986

Closed Date: April 23, 1999

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Case Summary

In 1986, prisoners at the Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women in Wetumpka, Alabama, filed a lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against the Alabama Department of Corrections in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama. The plaintiffs, represented by the Southern Center for Human Rights in Atlanta, alleged that the conditions of their confinement violated their rights under the United States Constitution. On October 5, 1987, the parties entered into a comprehensive settlement by conse…

In 1986, prisoners at the Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women in Wetumpka, Alabama, filed a lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against the Alabama Department of Corrections in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama. The plaintiffs, represented by the Southern Center for Human Rights in Atlanta, alleged that the conditions of their confinement violated their rights under the United States Constitution. On October 5, 1987, the parties entered into a comprehensive settlement by consent decree.

On July 2, 1997, the Alabama Department of Corrections asked the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama (Judge Robert Varner) to terminate the consent decree pursuant to the Prison Litigation Reform Act, 18 U.S.C. §3626(b)(2). The court granted the motion and terminated the consent decree. The plaintiffs appealed.

On April 23, 1999, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit (Judge Stanley Birch) affirmed the district court's decision. Nichols v. Hopper, 173 F.3d 820 (11th Cir. 1999). We have no further information on the proceedings in this case.

Summary Authors

Kristen Sagar (6/19/2007)

Related Cases

U.S. v. Alabama, Middle District of Alabama (1987)

People


Judge(s)

Birch, Stanley F. Jr. (Georgia)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Huffman, Katharine Aiken (Georgia)

Johnson, Christopher M. (Georgia)

Attorney for Defendant

Culverhouse, Renee D. (Alabama)

Expert/Monitor/Master/Other

Herwig, Barbara L. (District of Columbia)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

97-06818

Opinion

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

April 23, 1999

April 23, 1999

Order/Opinion

173 F.3d 173

Docket

Last updated Feb. 16, 2024, 3:05 a.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: Alabama

Case Type(s):

Prison Conditions

Key Dates

Filing Date: May 2, 1986

Closing Date: April 23, 1999

Case Ongoing: No reason to think so

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Inmates at the Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women in Wetumpka, Alabama complaining of the prison's conditions

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

Southern Center for Human Rights (SCHR)

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: Unknown

Class Action Sought: Unknown

Class Action Outcome: Unknown

Defendants

Alabama Department of Corrections, State

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Constitutional Clause(s):

Due Process

Equal Protection

Available Documents:

Any published opinion

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Form of Settlement:

Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree

Order Duration: 1987 - 1997

Issues

General:

Conditions of confinement

Totality of conditions

Affected Sex or Gender:

Female

Type of Facility:

Government-run