Case: Pickle v. Harris

3:85-00801 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee

Filed Date: Sept. 27, 1985

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Case Summary

On September 27, 1985, inmates at the Brushy Mountain Penitentiary in Tennessee filed a pro se lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against the Tennessee Department of Corrections in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee. The plaintiffs alleged that the defendants had violated their constitutional rights by denying them access to the courts due to security measures in place in the D-Block at BMP, which prevented or limited inmates' physical access to the law library. Plainti…

On September 27, 1985, inmates at the Brushy Mountain Penitentiary in Tennessee filed a pro se lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against the Tennessee Department of Corrections in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee. The plaintiffs alleged that the defendants had violated their constitutional rights by denying them access to the courts due to security measures in place in the D-Block at BMP, which prevented or limited inmates' physical access to the law library. Plaintiffs sought injunctive relief.

On February 28, 1986, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee (Judge Thomas G. Hull) found that the plaintiffs' constitutional rights had been violated, and they ordered the defendants to file a report within 30 days, advising the court on how they intended to remedy the current unconstitutional procedures. Pickle v. Harris, 1986 WL 4302 (E.D.Tenn. Feb 28, 1986). We have no information on the court order that resulted from the subsequent report.

In 1988, several prisoners asked the district court to hold the defendants in contempt of the court's order. On November 29, 1988, the district court (Judge Hull) denied the motions for contempt and dismissed the action. The plaintiffs appealed.

On February 12, 1990, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit (Judge Anna Taylor, Judge Damon Keith, and Judge Robert Krupansky) affirmed the district court's decision not to intervene and dismissed the appeal. Pickle v. Harris, 1990 WL 11385 (6th Cir.(Tenn.) Feb. 12, 1990. We have no further information on the proceedings in this case.

Summary Authors

Kristen Sagar (7/12/2007)

People


Judge(s)

Keith, Damon Jerome (Michigan)

Krupansky, Robert B. (Ohio)

Murrian, Robert P. (Tennessee)

Taylor, Anna Katherine Johnston Diggs (Michigan)

Judge(s)

Keith, Damon Jerome (Michigan)

Krupansky, Robert B. (Ohio)

Murrian, Robert P. (Tennessee)

Taylor, Anna Katherine Johnston Diggs (Michigan)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

3:85-00801

Report and Recommendation

Feb. 28, 1986

Feb. 28, 1986

Order/Opinion

1986 WL 1986

89-05788

Order

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

Feb. 12, 1990

Feb. 12, 1990

Order/Opinion

895 F.2d 895

Docket

Last updated March 27, 2024, 3:07 a.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: Tennessee

Case Type(s):

Prison Conditions

Key Dates

Filing Date: Sept. 27, 1985

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Inmate in D-Block [Maximum Security] at Brushy Mountain Penitentiary

Public Interest Lawyer: Unknown

Filed Pro Se: Yes

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Tennessee Department of Corrections, State

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Constitutional Clause(s):

Due Process

Due Process: Procedural Due Process

Available Documents:

Any published opinion

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Unknown

Source of Relief:

Unknown

Issues

General:

Access to lawyers or judicial system

Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:

Law library access

Visiting

Affected Sex or Gender:

Male

Type of Facility:

Government-run