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Portion of Ruiz Appeal Vacated
The court of appeals for the Fifth Circuit vacated a portion of its opinion in the Ruiz case on motion for rehearing filed by the prisoners. After the case was briefed and argued, but before the court of appeals issued an opinion, the parties reached agreement on the issues of the Huntsville Unit Hospital, and fire safety in Texas prisons. The court of appeals' opinion vacated those sections of the relief. On rehearing, the court of appeals vacated the sections of the opinion related to the Huntsville Unit Hospital, clarified that its finding that double-ceiling in administrative segregation was not cruel and unusual punishment did not preclude the parties from seeking further relief on that issue, and reaffirmed its decision that the district court's order that defendants use good time, parole and furlough programs to reduce prison overcrowding was too intrusive. There are many other published opinions in this case. See: Ruiz v. Estelle, 688 F.2d 266 (5th Cir. 1982).
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Related legal case
Ruiz v. Estelle
| Year | 1982 |
|---|---|
| Cite | 688 F.2d 266 (5th Cir. 1982) |
| Level | Court of Appeals |
| Attorney Fees | 0 |
| Damages | 0 |
Ruiz v. Estelle, 688 F.2d 266 (5th Cir. 09/16/1982)
[1] UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
[2] Nos. 81-2224, 81-2380, 81-2390
[3] 1982, 688 F.2d 266
[4] September 16, 1982
[5] DAVID R. RUIZ, ET AL., PLAINTIFFS-APPELLEES, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, INTERVENOR-APPELLEE,
v.
W. J. ESTELLE, JR., ET AL., DEFENDANTS-APPELLANTS
[6] Appeals from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas. Opinion June 23, 5 Cir., 1982, 679 F.2d 1115.
[7] Hon, Mark White, Atty. Gen. of Texas, Austin, Texas, Ed Idar, Jr., Asst., Austin, Texas, Douglas M. Becier, Austin, Texas, Pike Powers, Austin, Texas, William R. Pakalka, Houston, Texas, Keith A. Jones, Washington, District of Columbia.
[8] For: Heard, Donald W. Jacdson Asst. County Atty., Houston, Texas, Edward J. Landry, Houston, Texas.
[9] Kenneth L. Petersen, Jr., Austin, Texas.
[10] Lee C. Clyburn, Austin, Texas, Jerry E. Smith, Houston, Texas, for Appellant.
[11] For: Ruiz, et al., William Bennett Turner, San Francisco, California, Steven L. Winter, New York, New York, Joel Berger, New York, New York, Jack Greenberg, New York, New York, Samuel T. Briscoe, Dallas, Texas.
[12] For: L. D. Hilliard, James Wiginton, Angleton, Texas, Donna Brorby, San Francisco, California.
[13] For: U.S.A., David J. W. Vanderhoff, Senior Trial Atty. Appellate Section, Civil Rights Div., U.S. Dept. of Justice, Washington, District of Columbia, Dennis J. Dimsey U.S. Dept. of Justice, Washington, District of Columbia, W. Bradford Reynolds, U.S. Dept. of Justice, Washington, District of Columbia, for Appellees.
[14] For Amicus - The Legal Foundation of America: David Crump, Law School, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, Susan E. Waite, The Legal Foundation of America, Houston, Texas.
[15] For Amicus, ACLU - National Prison Project: Alvin J. Bronstein, ACLU, Washington, District of Columbia.
[16] Elizabeth Alexander, Washington, District of Columbia.
[17] Clark, Chief Judge, Rubin and Tate, Circuit Judges.
[18] Author: Per Curiam
[19] ON PETITION FOR REHEARING
[20] After an opinion was rendered in this case, Ruiz v. Estelle, 679 F.2d 1115 (5th Cir. 1982) (hereinafter cited by volume and page number only), counsel for the plaintiffs-appellees, a class comprising the inmates confined in the various institutions operated by the Texas Department of Corrections ("TDC"), filed a petition for rehearing. It tells us, for the first time, that the parties disposed of one of the issues after it was briefed, argued, and submitted, and before the court issued its opinion. The petition also seeks reconsideration of other issues. We consider these points separately.
[21] I
[22] The parties resolved the Huntsville Unit Hospital issue several months before we issued our opinion in this case. In accordance with the request made by the inmate class and acquiesced in by the defendants, we vacate Parts 6.6 and 11.5(2) of the panel opinion, 679 F.2d at 1149-50, 1165, which treat that issue.
[23] II
[24] The plaintiffs assert that the parties have agreed to a TDC fire safety plan that has been tentatively approved by the district court. Nothing contained in our opinion intimates that this agreement, never previously called to our attention, should be set aside, whether or not the fire safety provisions of the prior district court decree are affirmed. Accordingly, without setting aside our prior determination on this issue, see Parts 6.8, 11.5(5), 679 F.2d at 1152-53, 1165, we state expressly that the parties are not precluded from obtaining the district court's approval of a remedial order that grants additional relief. Cf. United States v. City of Miami, 664 F.2d 435, 447 (5th Cir. 1981) (en banc) (plurality opinion) ("The parties to litigation are not to be deprived of the opportunity to compose their differences. . . .").
[25] III
[26] Our ruling that double-celling of inmates in administrative segregation does not constitute cruel and unusual punishment, Parts 6.7, 11.5(3), 679 F.2d at 1150-51, 1165, was based only on the record before us. It was not intended to preclude either party from seeking further relief. Accordingly, our opinion is amended so that Part IV(C)(3) of the district court's decree is vacated without prejudice.
[27] IV
[28] We adhere to our holding that the direction to TDC to use good time, parole, and furlough programs was unduly intrusive. We fail to perceive how, under the district court's decree, even as modified by us, TDC will again become so overcrowded as to warrant such intrusion, for the decree contains specific provisions that limit prison population. TDC's problem will be whether there are facilities permitting the admission of inmates, not the method of discharging inmates. However, should TDC fail to comply with the district court's decree, and the inmate population be increased beyond the number authorized by the space requirements of the decree, and should TDC fail to remedy the situation, our order shall not preclude the direction of specific remedies.
[29] V
[30] Sua sponte, we clarify the references in our opinion to the time within which either party may seek changes in the district court's decree. Application for such changes may be filed after the decree, as modified by us, has been in force for one year, and the hearing shall be held in due course thereafter.
[31] In all other respects the petition for rehearing is DENIED.
[1] UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
[2] Nos. 81-2224, 81-2380, 81-2390
[3] 1982, 688 F.2d 266
[4] September 16, 1982
[5] DAVID R. RUIZ, ET AL., PLAINTIFFS-APPELLEES, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, INTERVENOR-APPELLEE,
v.
W. J. ESTELLE, JR., ET AL., DEFENDANTS-APPELLANTS
[6] Appeals from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas. Opinion June 23, 5 Cir., 1982, 679 F.2d 1115.
[7] Hon, Mark White, Atty. Gen. of Texas, Austin, Texas, Ed Idar, Jr., Asst., Austin, Texas, Douglas M. Becier, Austin, Texas, Pike Powers, Austin, Texas, William R. Pakalka, Houston, Texas, Keith A. Jones, Washington, District of Columbia.
[8] For: Heard, Donald W. Jacdson Asst. County Atty., Houston, Texas, Edward J. Landry, Houston, Texas.
[9] Kenneth L. Petersen, Jr., Austin, Texas.
[10] Lee C. Clyburn, Austin, Texas, Jerry E. Smith, Houston, Texas, for Appellant.
[11] For: Ruiz, et al., William Bennett Turner, San Francisco, California, Steven L. Winter, New York, New York, Joel Berger, New York, New York, Jack Greenberg, New York, New York, Samuel T. Briscoe, Dallas, Texas.
[12] For: L. D. Hilliard, James Wiginton, Angleton, Texas, Donna Brorby, San Francisco, California.
[13] For: U.S.A., David J. W. Vanderhoff, Senior Trial Atty. Appellate Section, Civil Rights Div., U.S. Dept. of Justice, Washington, District of Columbia, Dennis J. Dimsey U.S. Dept. of Justice, Washington, District of Columbia, W. Bradford Reynolds, U.S. Dept. of Justice, Washington, District of Columbia, for Appellees.
[14] For Amicus - The Legal Foundation of America: David Crump, Law School, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, Susan E. Waite, The Legal Foundation of America, Houston, Texas.
[15] For Amicus, ACLU - National Prison Project: Alvin J. Bronstein, ACLU, Washington, District of Columbia.
[16] Elizabeth Alexander, Washington, District of Columbia.
[17] Clark, Chief Judge, Rubin and Tate, Circuit Judges.
[18] Author: Per Curiam
[19] ON PETITION FOR REHEARING
[20] After an opinion was rendered in this case, Ruiz v. Estelle, 679 F.2d 1115 (5th Cir. 1982) (hereinafter cited by volume and page number only), counsel for the plaintiffs-appellees, a class comprising the inmates confined in the various institutions operated by the Texas Department of Corrections ("TDC"), filed a petition for rehearing. It tells us, for the first time, that the parties disposed of one of the issues after it was briefed, argued, and submitted, and before the court issued its opinion. The petition also seeks reconsideration of other issues. We consider these points separately.
[21] I
[22] The parties resolved the Huntsville Unit Hospital issue several months before we issued our opinion in this case. In accordance with the request made by the inmate class and acquiesced in by the defendants, we vacate Parts 6.6 and 11.5(2) of the panel opinion, 679 F.2d at 1149-50, 1165, which treat that issue.
[23] II
[24] The plaintiffs assert that the parties have agreed to a TDC fire safety plan that has been tentatively approved by the district court. Nothing contained in our opinion intimates that this agreement, never previously called to our attention, should be set aside, whether or not the fire safety provisions of the prior district court decree are affirmed. Accordingly, without setting aside our prior determination on this issue, see Parts 6.8, 11.5(5), 679 F.2d at 1152-53, 1165, we state expressly that the parties are not precluded from obtaining the district court's approval of a remedial order that grants additional relief. Cf. United States v. City of Miami, 664 F.2d 435, 447 (5th Cir. 1981) (en banc) (plurality opinion) ("The parties to litigation are not to be deprived of the opportunity to compose their differences. . . .").
[25] III
[26] Our ruling that double-celling of inmates in administrative segregation does not constitute cruel and unusual punishment, Parts 6.7, 11.5(3), 679 F.2d at 1150-51, 1165, was based only on the record before us. It was not intended to preclude either party from seeking further relief. Accordingly, our opinion is amended so that Part IV(C)(3) of the district court's decree is vacated without prejudice.
[27] IV
[28] We adhere to our holding that the direction to TDC to use good time, parole, and furlough programs was unduly intrusive. We fail to perceive how, under the district court's decree, even as modified by us, TDC will again become so overcrowded as to warrant such intrusion, for the decree contains specific provisions that limit prison population. TDC's problem will be whether there are facilities permitting the admission of inmates, not the method of discharging inmates. However, should TDC fail to comply with the district court's decree, and the inmate population be increased beyond the number authorized by the space requirements of the decree, and should TDC fail to remedy the situation, our order shall not preclude the direction of specific remedies.
[29] V
[30] Sua sponte, we clarify the references in our opinion to the time within which either party may seek changes in the district court's decree. Application for such changes may be filed after the decree, as modified by us, has been in force for one year, and the hearing shall be held in due course thereafter.
[31] In all other respects the petition for rehearing is DENIED.