Case: Cruz v. Hauck

5:70-00182 | U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas

Filed Date: March 2, 1972

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Case Summary

In 1970, plaintiffs filed a class action pro se seeking declaratory and injunctive relief against the enforcement of jail regulations restricting inmates' use and possession of legal materials in Bexar County Jail. Over the next several years, litigation continued and plaintiffs appealed several decisions of the district court for the Western District of Texas. In 1977, the district court (Judge Adrian A. Spears) refused to grant class certification and determined that the entire case was moo…

In 1970, plaintiffs filed a class action pro se seeking declaratory and injunctive relief against the enforcement of jail regulations restricting inmates' use and possession of legal materials in Bexar County Jail. Over the next several years, litigation continued and plaintiffs appealed several decisions of the district court for the Western District of Texas. In 1977, the district court (Judge Adrian A. Spears) refused to grant class certification and determined that the entire case was moot because the named plaintiffs were no longer incarcerated in the jail; plaintiffs appealed. In 1980, the Fifth Circuit reversed the district court's decision and remanded for the district to consider the merits of plaintiffs' claims. Cruz v. Hauck, 627 F.2d 710 (5th Cir. 1980). Plaintiffs ultimately succeeded and won an injunction that required defendants to implement a set of rules and policies meant to provide inmates meaningful access to legal materials. Subsequent litigation continued regarding attorney's fees. Cruz v. Hauck, 762 F.2d 1230 (5th Cir. 1985). The docket for this case is not available on PACER, and therefore our information ends with the last reported decision in 1985.

Summary Authors

Lauren Cutson (5/26/2005)

People


Judge(s)

Higginbotham, Patrick Errol (Texas)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Cruz, Frances Tuckerman Freeman Jalet (Texas)

Duke, Lonnie W. (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Defendant

Hernandez, George B. Jr. (Texas)

Hitchings, Barry P. (Texas)

Expert/Monitor/Master/Other
Judge(s)

Higginbotham, Patrick Errol (Texas)

Johnson, Samuel D. Jr. (Texas)

Reavley, Thomas Morrow (Texas)

Tate, Albert Jr. (Louisiana)

Thornberry, William Homer (Texas)

Expert/Monitor/Master/Other

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

79-03283

Reported Opinion

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

Oct. 8, 1980

Oct. 8, 1980

Order/Opinion

627 F.2d 627

84-01119

Reported Opinion

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

June 17, 1985

June 17, 1985

Order/Opinion

762 F.2d 762

Resources

Docket

Last updated Jan. 23, 2024, 3 a.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: Texas

Case Type(s):

Jail Conditions

Key Dates

Filing Date: March 2, 1972

Case Ongoing: No reason to think so

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Plaintiffs are inmates of the Bexar County Jail.

Public Interest Lawyer: Unknown

Filed Pro Se: Yes

Class Action Sought: Yes

Class Action Outcome: Granted

Defendants

Bexar County Jail (Bexar), County

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:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Litigation

Order Duration: 1970 - None

Issues

General:

Access to lawyers or judicial system

Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:

Law library access

Type of Facility:

Government-run