Filed Date: May 2, 1986
Closed Date: April 23, 1999
Clearinghouse coding complete
In 1986, prisoners at the Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women in Wetumpka, Alabama, filed a lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against the Alabama Department of Corrections in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama. The plaintiffs, represented by the Southern Center for Human Rights in Atlanta, alleged that the conditions of their confinement violated their rights under the United States Constitution. On October 5, 1987, the parties entered into a comprehensive settlement by consent decree.
On July 2, 1997, the Alabama Department of Corrections asked the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama (Judge Robert Varner) to terminate the consent decree pursuant to the Prison Litigation Reform Act, 18 U.S.C. §3626(b)(2). The court granted the motion and terminated the consent decree. The plaintiffs appealed.
On April 23, 1999, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit (Judge Stanley Birch) affirmed the district court's decision. Nichols v. Hopper, 173 F.3d 820 (11th Cir. 1999). We have no further information on the proceedings in this case.
Summary Authors
Kristen Sagar (6/19/2007)
U.S. v. Alabama, Middle District of Alabama (1987)
Birch, Stanley F. Jr. (Georgia)
Huffman, Katharine Aiken (Georgia)
Johnson, Christopher M. (Georgia)
Culverhouse, Renee D. (Alabama)
Herwig, Barbara L. (District of Columbia)
Last updated April 17, 2024, 3:19 a.m.
Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.State / Territory: Alabama
Case Type(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: May 2, 1986
Closing Date: April 23, 1999
Case Ongoing: No reason to think so
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Inmates at the Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women in Wetumpka, Alabama complaining of the prison's conditions
Plaintiff Type(s):
Attorney Organizations:
Southern Center for Human Rights (SCHR)
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: Unknown
Class Action Sought: Unknown
Class Action Outcome: Unknown
Defendants
Alabama Department of Corrections, State
Facility Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Constitutional Clause(s):
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Plaintiff
Nature of Relief:
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief:
Form of Settlement:
Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree
Order Duration: 1987 - 1997
Issues
General/Misc.:
Affected Sex/Gender(s):