Case: Long v. Beyer

2:87-cv-01301 | U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey

Filed Date: April 6, 1987

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Case Summary

On April 6, 1987, an inmate in the Capital Sentences Unit (CSU) at the Trenton State Prison filed a pro se lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against the New Jersey Department of Corrections in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. The plaintiff alleged that the defendants had violated his constitutional right to access to the courts by denying him access to the prison law library, and he asked the court for declaratory and injunctive relief. On August 11, 1987, the U.S. Distric…

On April 6, 1987, an inmate in the Capital Sentences Unit (CSU) at the Trenton State Prison filed a pro se lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against the New Jersey Department of Corrections in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. The plaintiff alleged that the defendants had violated his constitutional right to access to the courts by denying him access to the prison law library, and he asked the court for declaratory and injunctive relief.

On August 11, 1987, the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey (Judge Anne Thompson) granted the plaintiff's request for a preliminary injunction, denied the defendants' motion for summary judgment, and ordered the plaintiff and the defendants to submit proposals within 30 days for a plan which will more adequately provide CSU inmates with meaningful legal access. Long v. Beyer, 1987 WL 16769 (D.N.J. Aug. 11, 1987).

On January 11, 1988, the district court (Judge Thompson) issued an injunction against the defendants with the following orders: 1) the prison may assign one staff person to coordinate the legal services for the CSU, and four paralegals should be named to assist the inmates in the CSU; 2) the paralegals should be available Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.; 3) inmates should submit legal request forms to the wing officer, who will record and handle all requests on a daily basis, and the defendants will have ten days to supply the material to the inmates; 4) no assistance will be provided by the law library concerning any matter which is being handled by an attorney; 5) inmate paralegals must be approved by the CSU officers, and they will not be strip searched because they will communicate with the inmates through a visitor's window; 6) inmates in the CSU will be allowed copies of only five cases for each two-week period. Long v. Beyer, 676 F.Supp. 75 (D.N.J. 1988). We have no further information on the proceedings in this case.

Summary Authors

Kristen Sagar (8/6/2007)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/8551642/parties/long-v-beyer/


Judge(s)

Thompson, Anne Elise (New Jersey)

Attorney for Defendant

Chudzik, Helene (New Jersey)

Gregory, George W. (New Jersey)

Judge(s)

Thompson, Anne Elise (New Jersey)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

2:87-cv-01301

Docket (PACER)

April 3, 1990

April 3, 1990

Docket

2:87-cv-01301

Memorandum and Order

Aug. 11, 1987

Aug. 11, 1987

Order/Opinion

1987 WL 1987

2:87-cv-01301

Memorandum and Order

Jan. 11, 1988

Jan. 11, 1988

Order/Opinion

676 F.Supp. 676

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/8551642/long-v-beyer/

Last updated Feb. 3, 2024, 3:03 a.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: New Jersey

Case Type(s):

Prison Conditions

Key Dates

Filing Date: April 6, 1987

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Prison inmate alleging that the defendants have denied him adequate access to the courts by denying him access to the prison law library

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: Unknown

Filed Pro Se: Yes

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

New Jersey Department of Corrections, State

Trenton State Prison, State

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Constitutional Clause(s):

Due Process

Due Process: Procedural Due Process

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Any published opinion

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Preliminary injunction / Temp. restraining order

Source of Relief:

Litigation

Order Duration: 1987 - None

Content of Injunction:

Preliminary relief granted

Issues

General:

Access to lawyers or judicial system

Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:

Law library access

Visiting

Type of Facility:

Government-run