This class action was brought by inmates of the Departmental Segregation Unit of the Massachusetts Correctional Institute at Walpole against officials of the Massachusetts Department of Corrections, claiming that defendants had defaulted in their constitutional obligation to assist them in the preparation and filing of meaningful legal papers by providing an adequate law library or adequate legal assistance from persons trained in the law. The plaintiffs were represented by private counsel.

In a decision dated May 9, 1983, the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts (Judge Rya Zobel) found for the plaintiffs. Cepulonis v. Fair, 563 F.Supp. 659 (D. Mass. 1983). Defendants appealed from that finding and from the court's remedial order directing the establishment of a satellite law library holding certain volumes, and the provision of assistance by second and third year law students for five hours a week.

The United States Court of Appeals, First Circuit (Judge Levin H. Campbell), affirmed in part and vacated and remanded in part, holding: the district court did not abuse its discretion in ordering that a satellite library be established, in view of the fact that prison officials themselves had suggested the creation of such facility; the district court did not abuse its discretion in its determination of which volumes were to be placed in the library; and that the district court erred in ordering prison officials to provide, in addition to the library, assistance by law students worker under a lawyer's supervision. Cepulonis v. Fair, 732 F.2d 1 (1st Cir. 1984).

There is no docket available for this case.

Theresa Spaulding - 07/16/2005


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