Case: James v. Lash

3:73-cv-00005 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana

Filed Date: Jan. 3, 1973

Closed Date: Nov. 9, 1997

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Case Summary

Prior to 1982, three Muslim inmates in the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City, Indiana filed a lawsuit under 42 USC 1983 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana against prison officials claiming a violation of their First Amendment Right to freely exercise their religious beliefs. The parties entered into a consent decree on May 28, 1982 in which the defendants agreed to recognize the American Muslim Mission as a legitimate religious group and to afford it the same ri…

The parties entered into a consent decree on May 28, 1982 in which the defendants agreed to recognize the American Muslim Mission as a legitimate religious group and to afford it the same rights as other religious groups at the Indiana State Prison. More specifically, the consent decree afforded the plaintiffs with the right to possess a Koran and other religious books, to have a pork-free diet, to observe Ramadan, and to participate in weekly religious services and study classes.

On October 21, 1996, pursuant to the Prison Litigation Reform Act, the defendants moved to terminate the consent decree. The District Court (Judge Allen Sharp) granted the motion on December 13, 1996. James v. Lash, 949 F.Supp. 691 (N.D. Ind. 1996).

The plaintiffs moved to reconsider, asking the court to find the PLRA unconstitutional and vacate the order terminating the consent decree. On May 15, 1997, the District Court denied the motion. James v. Lash, 965 F.Supp. 1190 (N.D. Ind. 1997).

According to the PACER docket, which begins with the October 1996 termination motion, two status reports were entered before the case was closed on November 19, 1997.

Summary Authors

Rebekah Henn Sullivan (8/4/2006)

People

Judge(s)

Sharp, Allen (Indiana)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Bodensteiner, Ivan E. (Indiana)

Attorney for Defendant

Overholt, Anthony W. (Indiana)

Judge(s)

Sharp, Allen (Indiana)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Bodensteiner, Ivan E. (Indiana)

Attorney for Defendant

Overholt, Anthony W. (Indiana)

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Documents in this case

3:73-cv-00005	Docket (PACER)	Nov. 19, 1997	Nov. 19, 1997 Docket
5 3:73-cv-00005	Memorandum and Order	Dec. 13, 1996	Dec. 13, 1996 Order/Opinion 949 F.Supp. 691
18 3:73-cv-00005	Memorandum and Order	May 15, 1997	May 15, 1997 Order/Opinion 965 F.Supp. 1190

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Docket

Last updated March 24, 2025, 8:28 a.m.

ECF Number	Date	Description	Link
1	Oct. 21, 1996	ATTORNEY APPEARANCE for defendants Russell E Lash, Charles E Moore, James Devero, Robert Heyne by Anthony W. Overholt (sdf) Modified on 10/22/1996 (Entered: 10/22/1996)	PACER
2	Oct. 21, 1996	MOTION by defendants to terminate consent decree (sdf) (Entered: 10/22/1996)	PACER
3	Nov. 5, 1996	MEMORANDUM by plaintiffs in opposition to motion to terminate consent decree [2-1] (sdf) (Entered: 11/07/1996)	PACER
4	Nov. 14, 1996	REPLY by defendants to response/opposition to motion to terminate consent decree [2-1] (sdf) (Entered: 11/15/1996)	PACER
5	Dec. 13, 1996	MEMORANDUM AND ORDER: by Chief Judge Allen Sharp granting motion to terminate consent decree [2-1] (cc: all counsel) (slm) (Entered: 12/16/1996)	PACER
6	Dec. 20, 1996	MOTION by plaintiff Sterling X James for hearing on petition for contempt order failure to boey consent judgment (sdf) (Entered: 12/23/1996)	PACER
7	Dec. 23, 1996	MAIL Returned [5-1] addressed to plaintiff Sterling X James, plaintiff Raymond X Stone, plaintiff John X Tinsley (sdf) (Entered: 12/23/1996)	PACER
8	Jan. 9, 1997	ORDER by Judge Allen Sharp granting motion for hearing on petition for contempt order failure to obey consent judgment [6-1] (cc: all counsel) (sdf) (Entered: 01/10/1997)	PACER
9	Jan. 21, 1997	MAIL Returned [8-1] addressed to plaintiff Sterling X James (sdf) (Entered: 01/22/1997)	PACER
10	Jan. 21, 1997	MAIL Returned [8-1] addressed to plaintiff John X Tinsley (sdf) (Entered: 01/22/1997)	PACER
11	Jan. 21, 1997	MOTION by plaintiff for relief from order of 12/13/96 (sdf) (Entered: 01/22/1997)	PACER
12	Jan. 21, 1997	NOTICE by plaintiffs of constitutional challenge to federal statute, the Prison Litigation Reform Act, 18 U.S.C. section 3626 (sdf) (Entered: 01/22/1997)	PACER
13	Jan. 23, 1997	MAIL Returned [8-1] addressed to plaintiff Raymond X Stone (discharged) (sdf) (Entered: 01/24/1997)	PACER
14	Jan. 30, 1997	MOTION by defendants to extend time to/including 2/17/97 to respond to plaintiff's motion for relief from order (sdf) (Entered: 01/31/1997)	PACER
15	Jan. 30, 1997	ORDER by Judge Allen Sharp granting motion to extend time to/including 2/17/97 to respond to plaintiff's motion for relief from order [14-1] (cc: all counsel) (sdf) (Entered: 01/31/1997)	PACER
16	Feb. 18, 1997	RESPONSE by defendants to motion for relief from order of 12/13/96 [11-1] (slm) (Entered: 02/19/1997)	PACER
17	Feb. 27, 1997	MEMORANDUM by plaintiffs Sterling X James, Raymond X Stone, John X Tinsley in support of motion for relief from order of 12/13/96 [11-1] (sdf) (Entered: 02/27/1997)	PACER
18	May 15, 1997	MEMORANDUM AND ORDER: by Judge Allen Sharp denying motion for relief from order of 12/13/96 [11-1] (cc: all counsel) (sdf) (Entered: 05/16/1997)	PACER
19	Oct. 23, 1997	ORDER by Judge Allen Sharp; to all parites Status report due 11/7/97 (cc: all counsel) (sdf) (Entered: 10/24/1997)	PACER
20	Nov. 3, 1997	STATUS REPORT by plaintiffs, defendant (sdf) (Entered: 11/03/1997)	PACER
21	Nov. 10, 1997	STATUS REPORT by defendants (sdf) (Entered: 11/10/1997)	PACER
22	Nov. 19, 1997	ORDER by Judge Allen Sharp terminating case based on a review of the status reports and the court's file (cc: all counsel) (sdf) (Entered:	PACER

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Case Details

State / Territory:

Indiana

Case Type(s):

Prison Conditions

Key Dates

Filing Date: Jan. 3, 1973

Closing Date: Nov. 9, 1997

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Indiana prison moving to terminate consent decree directing prison to adopt and implement guidelines for the practice of religion by the Islamic community

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: Yes

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

State

Indiana State Prison

Indiana State Prison Officials

Facility Type(s):

Government-run