Case: U.S. v. Illinois

3:76-00158 | U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois

Filed Date: Dec. 29, 1976

Closed Date: 1995

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On December 29, 1976, the United States filed a complaint against the State of Illinois and Illinois Department of Corrections in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois under 42 U.S.C. § 2000b(a), which allows the Attorney General to bring a civil action against a State in district court when he or she receives a written complaint from an individual stating that his or her right to equal protection or equal utilization of a public facility is being denied. The complaint s…

On December 29, 1976, the United States filed a complaint against the State of Illinois and Illinois Department of Corrections in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois under 42 U.S.C. § 2000b(a), which allows the Attorney General to bring a civil action against a State in district court when he or she receives a written complaint from an individual stating that his or her right to equal protection or equal utilization of a public facility is being denied. The complaint sought a permanent injunction against the operations of the Illinois Correctional Center System, alleging violations of the Eighth and Fourteenth Amednments. We do not know the specific allegations of the complaint but know at least in part it concerned racial discrimination in Illinois correctional facilities.

On February 9, 1977, defendants filed a motion for a preliminary injunction, which the court (Judge James Waldo Ackerman) granted in an order entered on February 10, 1977. On March 2, 1977, the court entered an order denying petitioner's Motion for Leave to File Amicus Curiae and Motion to Proceed in Forma Pauperis. On April 11, 1977, the court extended the its February 10 injunction until June 3, 1977. On September 22, 1977, the court (Judge Ackerman) again continued defendant's preliminary injunction and set a bench trial regarding the racial discrimination aspect of this litigation for January 3, 1978 (later moved to January 4, 1978).

On February 17, 1978, the court (Judge Ackerman) once again extended defendant's preliminary injunction for one week.

The court (Judge Ackerman) entered a consent decree on February 26, 1978, and ordered that plaintiffs or their representatives would have reasonable access to certain Illinois correctional facilities. The court further ordered the State of Illinois to develop an affirmative action plan. On September 4, 1979, the court (Judge Ackerman) entered an order approving defendant's affirmative action plan and addendum.

On October 22, 1984, an individual filed a motion to certify the case as a class action and for appointment of counsel. On January 14, 1985, the individual filed a motion to dismiss the United States as Plaintiff and instead be joined as a Defendant. On March 8, 1985, the court (Judge James Tyne Moody) ordered the case complete with no pending claims and found that the individual was not a party to the case and had no standing.

On July 19, 1994, the State of Illinois filed a motion seeking to dismiss the case or to strike a pending motion to enforce consent decree and find defendants in contempt. The docket ends on September 1, 1995 with the court (Judge Richard Henry Mills) entering an order granting defendant's motion. We have no further information on this case.

Summary Authors

Emilee Baker (10/21/2006)

People


Judge(s)

Ackerman, James Waldo (Illinois)

Mills, Richard Henry (Illinois)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Berry, Lisbon C. Jr. (District of Columbia)

Days, Drew S. III (District of Columbia)

Lewis, James A. (Illinois)

Attorney for Defendant

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

3:76-00158

Docket (PACER)

Sept. 1, 1995

Sept. 1, 1995

Docket

Docket

Last updated March 22, 2024, 3:02 a.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: Illinois

Case Type(s):

Prison Conditions

Key Dates

Filing Date: Dec. 29, 1976

Closing Date: 1995

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

United States Department of Justice

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: Yes

Class Action Outcome: Denied

Defendants

The State of Illinois, State

Illinois Correctional Center System, State

Case Details

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Mixed

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Litigation

Form of Settlement:

Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree

Order Duration: 1979 - 1995

Content of Injunction:

Preliminary relief granted

Issues

Discrimination-basis:

Race discrimination

Type of Facility:

Government-run