Case: Martin v. Ellandson

4:73-cv-10229 | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa

Filed Date: Sept. 28, 1973

Closed Date: 2000

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On September 28, 1973, an inmate at the Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison, Iowa filed a lawsuit pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against the Director of Iowa Adult Corrections and the Warden of the Iowa State Penitentiary, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa. The plaintiff, who represented himself, alleged violations of his First and Fourteenth Amendment rights. Specifically, the plaintiff complained the prison library offered inadequate legal materials and…

On September 28, 1973, an inmate at the Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison, Iowa filed a lawsuit pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against the Director of Iowa Adult Corrections and the Warden of the Iowa State Penitentiary, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa. The plaintiff, who represented himself, alleged violations of his First and Fourteenth Amendment rights. Specifically, the plaintiff complained the prison library offered inadequate legal materials and no legal assistants to help inmates with their legal work.

In January 1974, the court ordered the defendants to submit a plan to ensure inmates access to the courts as required by the United States Constitution. In May of 1974, the defendants submitted a plan, which the court modified. The court retained jurisdiction to monitor compliance.

On February 23, 1999, prison officials moved under the Prison Litigation Reform Act for termination of relief. The inmates, represented by the Law Clinic at the University of Iowa, challenged the motion. The District Court (Judge Ronald E. Longstaff) adopted the report and recommendations of a magistrate (Judge Celeste F. Bremer), and granted the motion to terminate relief and enforcement of the court order. Martin v. Ellandson, 112 F.Supp.2d 1017 (S.D. Iowa 2000).

The PACER docket for this case shows no subsequent litigation.

Summary Authors

Rebekah Henn Sullivan (8/11/2005)

People


Judge(s)

Longstaff, Ronald Earl (Iowa)

Attorney for Plaintiff
Attorney for Defendant

Allen, Gordon E. (Iowa)

Lindebak, Layne M. (Iowa)

Expert/Monitor/Master/Other

Garvey, Vincent M. (District of Columbia)

Hagen, Christopher D. (Iowa)

Judge(s)

Longstaff, Ronald Earl (Iowa)

show all people

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

4:73-cv-10229

Docket (PACER)

Oct. 16, 2000

Oct. 16, 2000

Docket
95

4:73-cv-10229

Order Adopting Report and Recommendation

Oct. 16, 2000

Oct. 16, 2000

Order/Opinion

122 F.Supp.2d 122

Docket

Last updated March 22, 2024, 3:08 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
3

COMPLAINT (ld) (Entered: 07/24/1992)

Oct. 12, 1973

Oct. 12, 1973

54

NOTICE OF CASE DISMISSAL by plaintiff Steven R Wycoff (ld) (Entered: 07/24/1992)

July 20, 1990

July 20, 1990

56

MOTION by plaintiff Steven R Wycoff, plaintiff Glendale More Jr to enforce compliance with order before Judge Ronald E. Longstaff (ld) (Entered: 07/24/1992)

April 13, 1992

April 13, 1992

55

MOTION by plaintiff Steven R Wycoff, plaintiff Glendale More Jr for appointment of counsel before Judge Ronald E. Longstaff (ld) (Entered: 07/24/1992)

April 13, 1992

April 13, 1992

57

MOTION by defendant Noland Ellandson, defendant Lou V Brewer to extend and ORDER granting motion [57-1] -- Defs' granted to 8/12/92 to respond to pltnfs' motion to enforce [pleading #56] /s/JRR, Clerk (cc: all counsel) (ld) (Entered: 07/24/1992)

July 17, 1992

July 17, 1992

58

MOTION by defendant Noland Ellandson, defendant Lou V Brewer to extend time to respond to motion for trial judge, etc. before Magistrate Mark W. Bennett (ld) (Entered: 08/18/1992)

Aug. 17, 1992

Aug. 17, 1992

59

ORDER by Magistrate Mark W. Bennett granting motion to extend time to and including 8/25/92 to respond to motion for trial judge, etc. before Magistrate Mark W. Bennett [58-1] (cc: all counsel) (jv) (Entered: 08/19/1992)

Aug. 19, 1992

Aug. 19, 1992

60

RESISTANCE by defendant Noland Ellandson, defendant Lou V Brewer re: motion to enforce compliance with order before Judge Ronald E. Longstaff [56-1] (Resistance to Motion for Trial Judge to Conduct Hearings, Modify Order, etc) (ld) (Entered: 08/26/1992)

Aug. 26, 1992

Aug. 26, 1992

61

(ORDER) Referral to Magistrate Judge by Judge Ronald E. Longstaff Case referred to Magistrate Mark W. Bennett for such further proceedings as he may deem necessary, and submission of a report and recommendation regarding disposition of the pltnfs' motion to the undersigned U.S. Dist. Judge. (cc: all counsel) (ld) (Entered: 02/23/1993)

Feb. 23, 1993

Feb. 23, 1993

62

ORDER by Magistrate Mark W. Bennett granting motion for appointment of counsel [55-1] BARBARA A SCHWARTZ appointed counsel for Steven Wycoff and Glendale More. (cc: all counsel) (ld) (Entered: 04/08/1993)

April 8, 1993

April 8, 1993

64

MOTION by plaintiff Steven R Wycoff for appointment of counsel before Magistrate Mark W. Bennett (ld) (Entered: 04/16/1993)

April 16, 1993

April 16, 1993

63

ATTORNEY APPEARANCE for plaintiff Steven R Wycoff, plaintiff Glendale More Jr by Barbara A. Schwartz, College of Law. (ld) (Entered: 04/16/1993)

April 16, 1993

April 16, 1993

65

ORDER by Magistrate Mark W. Bennett denying motion for appointment of counsel [64-1] (cc: all counsel) (cl) (Entered: 04/20/1993)

April 19, 1993

April 19, 1993

66

ORDER Setting Rule 16(b) Conference by Magistrate Judge Ross A. Walters ; Status hearing (MAG) RAW 1/12/95 at 1:45 p.m. [Telephone hrg] (cc: all counsel) (ld) Modified on 12/02/1994 (Entered: 11/30/1994)

Nov. 29, 1994

Nov. 29, 1994

67

ORDER on Closing Documetns and Cancelling Rule 16(b) Conference by Magistrate Judge Ross A. Walters ; Dismsl papers ddl 2/6/95 (cc: all counsel) (ld) (Entered: 01/04/1995)

Jan. 4, 1995

Jan. 4, 1995

68

NOTICE OF CASE DISMISSAL by plaintiffs, defendants (jv) (Entered: 02/01/1995)

Feb. 1, 1995

Feb. 1, 1995

70

MEMORANDUM by defendants in support [69-1] of motion for motion for termination of relief before Judge Ronald E. Longstaff (jj) (Entered: 02/23/1999)

Feb. 23, 1999

Feb. 23, 1999

69

MOTION by defendants for motion for termination of relief before Magistrate Judge Celeste F. Bremer (jj) Modified on 09/28/1999 (Entered: 02/23/1999)

Feb. 23, 1999

Feb. 23, 1999

71

MOTION by plaintiff Charles Reno Martin to extend time to resist the defts. motion for termination of relief before Judge Ronald E. Longstaff (jj) (Entered: 03/03/1999)

March 3, 1999

March 3, 1999

72

ORDER by Judge Ronald E. Longstaff granting motion to extend time no later than 4/30/99 to resist the defts. motion for termination of relief [71- 1] (cc: all counsel) (jj) (Entered: 03/09/1999)

March 9, 1999

March 9, 1999

74

MEMORANDUM by plaintiff in support [73-1] of motion response (jj) (Entered: 05/03/1999)

May 3, 1999

May 3, 1999

75

CERTIFICATION TO UNITED STATES ATTORNEY GENERAL PURSUANT TO 28 U.S.C. 2403(a)(ORDER) by Judge Ronald E. Longstaff; This court certifies that in the above-captioned case the pltfs. in their brief in resistance to respondents' motion to vacate the decree have into question the constitutionality of an act of Congress affecting the public interest, namely the Prison Litigation Reform Act. (See Order for more Particulars). (cc: all counsel) (jj) (Entered: 07/06/1999)

July 2, 1999

July 2, 1999

76

ORDER by Judge Ronald E. Longstaff reopening the case , Case referred to Magistrate Judge Celeste F. Bremer (cc: all counsel) (jj) (Entered: 07/26/1999)

July 23, 1999

July 23, 1999

77

ORDER by Magistrate Judge Celeste F. Bremer: Upon oral request of Assistant U.S. Attorney, Court grants an extension of time to and including 9/17/99 in which to file a motion to intervene (cc: all counsel) (dr) (Entered: 09/10/1999)

Sept. 9, 1999

Sept. 9, 1999

78

MOTION to extend to notify the Court of whether the U.S. will be intervening, up to and including 10/18/99 before Magistrate Judge Celeste F. Bremer (don) (Entered: 09/17/1999)

Sept. 17, 1999

Sept. 17, 1999

79

ORDER by Magistrate Judge Celeste F. Bremer granting motion to extend to notify the Court of whether the U.S. will be intervening, up to and including 10/18/99 [78-1] (cc: all counsel) (dr) (Entered: 09/24/1999)

Sept. 24, 1999

Sept. 24, 1999

80

MOTION by USA to extend time until 11/15/99 to intervene before Magistrate Judge Ross A. Walters (jj) (Entered: 10/19/1999)

Oct. 19, 1999

Oct. 19, 1999

81

ORDER by Magistrate Judge Ross A. Walters granting USA's motion to extend time until 11/15/99 to intervene [80-1] (cc: all counsel) (jj) (Entered: 10/22/1999)

Oct. 22, 1999

Oct. 22, 1999

83

MEMORANDUM by USA in support [82-1] of motion to intervene before Judge Ronald E. Longstaff (dr) (Entered: 11/16/1999)

Nov. 15, 1999

Nov. 15, 1999

82

MOTION by USA to intervene before Judge Ronald E. Longstaff (dr) (Entered: 11/16/1999)

Nov. 15, 1999

Nov. 15, 1999

84

ORDER by Judge Ronald E. Longstaff granting motion to intervene [82- 1] (cc: all counsel) (dr) (Entered: 11/16/1999)

Nov. 16, 1999

Nov. 16, 1999

85

ORDER SETTING HEARING by Magistrate Judge Celeste F. Bremer ; Any brief from the U.S. shall be filed by 2/15/00; any reply brief by either pltfs or dfts shall be filed by 3/6/00; Arguments on this matter will be heard by telephone call placed by counsel for dfts on 3/16/00 @ 9:00 a.m. (cc: all counsel) (dr) (Entered: 01/18/2000)

Jan. 18, 2000

Jan. 18, 2000

87

MEMORANDUM OF LAW by intervenor USA in support of Constitutionality of the Prison Litigation Reform Act (jj) (Entered: 03/03/2000)

March 3, 2000

March 3, 2000

88

RESPONSE by plaintiff Charles Reno Martin [87-1] re: memorandum (dr) (Entered: 03/15/2000)

March 15, 2000

March 15, 2000

89

ORDER by Magistrate Judge Celeste F. Bremer [69-1] terminating motion for motion for termination of relief [69-1] ; Final pretrial cnf (MAG) set for 5/19/00 at 9:00 a.m. ; Evidentiary hearing (MAG) set for 5/31/00 at 1:00 p.m. via the ICN. ; Telephone Hearing held on 3/16/00 at 9:00 a.m. (cc: all counsel) (jj) (Entered: 03/17/2000)

March 16, 2000

March 16, 2000

90

STATEMENT OF CLAIMS by plaintiff (jj) (Entered: 03/29/2000)

March 29, 2000

March 29, 2000

91

RESPONSE by defendants [90-1] re: statement of claims (jj) (Entered: 05/02/2000)

May 2, 2000

May 2, 2000

92

ORDER ON HEARING by Magistrate Judge Celeste F. Bremer re [91-1] response filed 5/2/00, shall be treated as a dispositive moiton. Pltfs. shall respond to this motion by 6/5/00 ; Final pretrial cnf (MAG) held on 5/19/00 ; Evidentiary hearing (MAG) set for 5/31/00 is continued , and will be reset after ruling on the dispositive motion, if necessary pre-trial conf. held (cc: all counsel) (jj) (Entered: 05/19/2000)

May 19, 2000

May 19, 2000

93

RESPONSE TO MOTION FOR MORE DEFINITE STATEMENT by plaintiff Charles Reno Martin [92-3] re: order (dr) (Entered: 06/05/2000)

June 5, 2000

June 5, 2000

94

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION by Magistrate Judge Celeste F. Bremer concerning that defts' m. for termination of relief should be granted and the prospective relief granted in the Order filed 1/25/ and 8/15/74 should be terminated ; objections due by 10/5/00 (cc: all counsel) (jj) (Entered: 09/15/2000)

Sept. 15, 2000

Sept. 15, 2000

96

JUDGMENT: signed by Jackie O. Jones re [95-2] order (cc: all counsel) OJ 290-113 (jj) (Entered: 10/17/2000)

Oct. 16, 2000

Oct. 16, 2000

95

ORDER by Judge Ronald E. Longstaff adopting report and recommendation by Magistrate Judge Celeste F. Bremer concerning [94- 1] granting motion for motion for termination of relief [69-1] dismissing case (cc: all counsel) (jj) (Entered: 10/17/2000)

Oct. 16, 2000

Oct. 16, 2000

Case Details

State / Territory: Iowa

Case Type(s):

Prison Conditions

Key Dates

Filing Date: Sept. 28, 1973

Closing Date: 2000

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

An inmate at Iowa State Penitentiary, Fort Madison, Iowa, alleging Defendants denied him access to the courts

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: Yes

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Iowa Adult Corrections, State

Iowa State Penitentiary (Fort Madison), State

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Constitutional Clause(s):

Due Process

Due Process: Procedural Due Process

Freedom of speech/association

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Any published opinion

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Litigation

Order Duration: 1974 - 2000

Issues

General:

Access to lawyers or judicial system

Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:

Law library access

Type of Facility:

Government-run