Filed Date: Sept. 29, 1970
Closed Date: Jan. 17, 1973
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Pretrial detainees of the Milwaukee County Jail filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin under 42 U.S.C. §1983. Specifically, they alleged that inadequacies in relation to medical care, recreational facilities, sanitation, and access to counsel violated their constitutional rights. The inmates were represented by the Corrections Legal Services Program, Freedom Through Equality, Inc., the Wisconsin Civil Liberties Union, and the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, Inc.
On January 12, 1971, the court (Judge Myron L. Gordon) issued the first opinion in the case, holding that the action could not be maintained as a class action because there was too much turnover in the inmate population. Inmates of Milwaukee County Jail v. Peterson, 51 F.R.D. 540 (E.D.Wis.1971).
On January 17, 1973, Judge Gordon issued a second opinion in the case, holding that the policies and procedures at the jail were unconstitutional. Inmates of Milwaukee County Jail v. Peterson, 353 F.Supp. 1157 (E.D.Wis. 1973). He stated that injunctive relief would have been granted had this been a class action lawsuit, but since that status was denied and the prisoners who initiated the lawsuit were no longer at the jail, no relief was granted.
Summary Authors
Kristen Sagar (6/14/2007)
Gordon, Myron L. (Wisconsin)
Bass, Stanley A. (New York)
Kelly, Walter F. (Wisconsin)
Martin, Kent A. (Wisconsin)
Steinglass, Steven H. (Wisconsin)
Sutton, Robert E. (Wisconsin)
Bonifas, James J. (Wisconsin)
Russell, Robert P. (Wisconsin)
Thompson, Thomas A. (Wyoming)
Gordon, Myron L. (Wisconsin)
Bass, Stanley A. (New York)
Kelly, Walter F. (Wisconsin)
Martin, Kent A. (Wisconsin)
Steinglass, Steven H. (Wisconsin)
Sutton, Robert E. (Wisconsin)
Bonifas, James J. (Wisconsin)
Russell, Robert P. (Wisconsin)
Thompson, Thomas A. (Wyoming)
Last updated Sept. 7, 2022, 3:01 a.m.
Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.State / Territory: Wisconsin
Case Type(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: Sept. 29, 1970
Closing Date: Jan. 17, 1973
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Inmates of Milwaukee County Jail alleging inadequacies in relation to medical care, recreational facilities, sanitation, and access to counsel violated constitutional rights
Plaintiff Type(s):
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: Unknown
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Milwaukee County Jail (Milwaukee), County
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Constitutional Clause(s):
Availably Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Defendant
Nature of Relief:
Source of Relief:
Issues
General:
Access to lawyers or judicial system
Sanitation / living conditions
Crowding:
Medical/Mental Health:
Type of Facility: