Case: James v. Lash

3:73-cv-00005 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana

Filed Date: Jan. 3, 1973

Closed Date: Nov. 9, 1997

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

Prior to 1982, three Muslim inmates in the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City, Indiana filed a lawsuit under 42 USC 1983 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana against prison officials claiming a violation of their First Amendment Right to freely exercise their religious beliefs. The parties entered into a consent decree on May 28, 1982 in which the defendants agreed to recognize the American Muslim Mission as a legitimate religious group and to afford it the same ri…

Prior to 1982, three Muslim inmates in the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City, Indiana filed a lawsuit under 42 USC 1983 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana against prison officials claiming a violation of their First Amendment Right to freely exercise their religious beliefs.

The parties entered into a consent decree on May 28, 1982 in which the defendants agreed to recognize the American Muslim Mission as a legitimate religious group and to afford it the same rights as other religious groups at the Indiana State Prison. More specifically, the consent decree afforded the plaintiffs with the right to possess a Koran and other religious books, to have a pork-free diet, to observe Ramadan, and to participate in weekly religious services and study classes.

On October 21, 1996, pursuant to the Prison Litigation Reform Act, the defendants moved to terminate the consent decree. The District Court (Judge Allen Sharp) granted the motion on December 13, 1996. James v. Lash, 949 F.Supp. 691 (N.D. Ind. 1996).

The plaintiffs moved to reconsider, asking the court to find the PLRA unconstitutional and vacate the order terminating the consent decree. On May 15, 1997, the District Court denied the motion. James v. Lash, 965 F.Supp. 1190 (N.D. Ind. 1997).

According to the PACER docket, which begins with the October 1996 termination motion, two status reports were entered before the case was closed on November 19, 1997.

Summary Authors

Rebekah Henn Sullivan (8/4/2006)

People

Judge(s)

Sharp, Allen (Indiana)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Bodensteiner, Ivan E. (Indiana)

Attorney for Defendant

Overholt, Anthony W. (Indiana)

Judge(s)

Sharp, Allen (Indiana)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Bodensteiner, Ivan E. (Indiana)

Attorney for Defendant

Overholt, Anthony W. (Indiana)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

3:73-cv-00005

Docket (PACER)

Nov. 19, 1997

Nov. 19, 1997

Docket
5

3:73-cv-00005

Memorandum and Order

Dec. 13, 1996

Dec. 13, 1996

Order/Opinion

949 F.Supp. 949

18

3:73-cv-00005

Memorandum and Order

May 15, 1997

May 15, 1997

Order/Opinion

965 F.Supp. 965

Docket

Last updated March 25, 2024, 3:08 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

ATTORNEY APPEARANCE for defendants Russell E Lash, Charles E Moore, James Devero, Robert Heyne by Anthony W. Overholt (sdf) Modified on 10/22/1996 (Entered: 10/22/1996)

Oct. 21, 1996

Oct. 21, 1996

2

MOTION by defendants to terminate consent decree (sdf) (Entered: 10/22/1996)

Oct. 21, 1996

Oct. 21, 1996

3

MEMORANDUM by plaintiffs in opposition to motion to terminate consent decree [2-1] (sdf) (Entered: 11/07/1996)

Nov. 5, 1996

Nov. 5, 1996

4

REPLY by defendants to response/opposition to motion to terminate consent decree [2-1] (sdf) (Entered: 11/15/1996)

Nov. 14, 1996

Nov. 14, 1996

5

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER: by Chief Judge Allen Sharp granting motion to terminate consent decree [2-1] (cc: all counsel) (slm) (Entered: 12/16/1996)

Dec. 13, 1996

Dec. 13, 1996

6

MOTION by plaintiff Sterling X James for hearing on petition for contempt order failure to boey consent judgment (sdf) (Entered: 12/23/1996)

Dec. 20, 1996

Dec. 20, 1996

7

MAIL Returned [5-1] addressed to plaintiff Sterling X James, plaintiff Raymond X Stone, plaintiff John X Tinsley (sdf) (Entered: 12/23/1996)

Dec. 23, 1996

Dec. 23, 1996

8

ORDER by Judge Allen Sharp granting motion for hearing on petition for contempt order failure to obey consent judgment [6-1] (cc: all counsel) (sdf) (Entered: 01/10/1997)

Jan. 9, 1997

Jan. 9, 1997

9

MAIL Returned [8-1] addressed to plaintiff Sterling X James (sdf) (Entered: 01/22/1997)

Jan. 21, 1997

Jan. 21, 1997

10

MAIL Returned [8-1] addressed to plaintiff John X Tinsley (sdf) (Entered: 01/22/1997)

Jan. 21, 1997

Jan. 21, 1997

11

MOTION by plaintiff for relief from order of 12/13/96 (sdf) (Entered: 01/22/1997)

Jan. 21, 1997

Jan. 21, 1997

12

NOTICE by plaintiffs of constitutional challenge to federal statute, the Prison Litigation Reform Act, 18 U.S.C. section 3626 (sdf) (Entered: 01/22/1997)

Jan. 21, 1997

Jan. 21, 1997

13

MAIL Returned [8-1] addressed to plaintiff Raymond X Stone (discharged) (sdf) (Entered: 01/24/1997)

Jan. 23, 1997

Jan. 23, 1997

14

MOTION by defendants to extend time to/including 2/17/97 to respond to plaintiff's motion for relief from order (sdf) (Entered: 01/31/1997)

Jan. 30, 1997

Jan. 30, 1997

15

ORDER by Judge Allen Sharp granting motion to extend time to/including 2/17/97 to respond to plaintiff's motion for relief from order [14-1] (cc: all counsel) (sdf) (Entered: 01/31/1997)

Jan. 30, 1997

Jan. 30, 1997

16

RESPONSE by defendants to motion for relief from order of 12/13/96 [11-1] (slm) (Entered: 02/19/1997)

Feb. 18, 1997

Feb. 18, 1997

17

MEMORANDUM by plaintiffs Sterling X James, Raymond X Stone, John X Tinsley in support of motion for relief from order of 12/13/96 [11-1] (sdf) (Entered: 02/27/1997)

Feb. 27, 1997

Feb. 27, 1997

18

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER: by Judge Allen Sharp denying motion for relief from order of 12/13/96 [11-1] (cc: all counsel) (sdf) (Entered: 05/16/1997)

May 15, 1997

May 15, 1997

19

ORDER by Judge Allen Sharp; to all parites Status report due 11/7/97 (cc: all counsel) (sdf) (Entered: 10/24/1997)

Oct. 23, 1997

Oct. 23, 1997

20

STATUS REPORT by plaintiffs, defendant (sdf) (Entered: 11/03/1997)

Nov. 3, 1997

Nov. 3, 1997

21

STATUS REPORT by defendants (sdf) (Entered: 11/10/1997)

Nov. 10, 1997

Nov. 10, 1997

22

ORDER by Judge Allen Sharp terminating case based on a review of the status reports and the court's file (cc: all counsel) (sdf) (Entered:

Nov. 19, 1997

Nov. 19, 1997

Case Details

State / Territory: Indiana

Case Type(s):

Prison Conditions

Key Dates

Filing Date: Jan. 3, 1973

Closing Date: Nov. 9, 1997

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Indiana prison moving to terminate consent decree directing prison to adopt and implement guidelines for the practice of religion by the Islamic community

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: Yes

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Indiana State Prison Officials, State

Indiana State Prison, State

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Constitutional Clause(s):

Free Exercise Clause

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Any published opinion

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Defendant

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Form of Settlement:

Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree

Order Duration: 1982 - None

Issues

General:

Religious programs / policies

Discrimination-basis:

Religion discrimination

Type of Facility:

Government-run