Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_04-cv-05069/USCOURTS-cand-3_04-cv-05069-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 555
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Prison Condition
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

MICHAEL WILLIAMS,

Plaintiff,

 v.

J.S. WOODFORD, et al.,

Defendants.

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No. C 04-5069 MMC (PR) 

ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF’S

MOTIONS FOR ACCESS TO THE

LAW LIBRARY AND FOR FUNDS

FOR EXPERT WITNESS 

(Docket No. 31 & 34)

Michael Williams, proceeding pro se and currently incarcerated in Pelican Bay State

Prison (“PBSP”), filed the above-titled civil rights action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against

various PBSP officials, alleging they caused him to be injured and to receive inadequate

medical care. The Court ordered the complaint served on various defendants. The complaint

was served, and defendants filed a motion to dismiss. Plaintiff filed an opposition, and

defendants have filed a reply. 

On January 5, 2006, plaintiff filed a motion for “funds” to retain an expert witness

pursuant to Rule 706 of the Federal Rules of Evidence. Rule 706(a) does not authorize the

district court to provide plaintiff with funds for an expert witness or to appoint such a witness

on plaintiff’s behalf; rather, it permits the appointment of a neutral expert to assist the Court, 

where, e.g., the parties’ have “warring experts.” See In re High Fructose Corn Syrup

Antitrust Litigation, 295 F.3d 651, 665 (7th Cir. 2002). At present, the Court is not in need

of expert assistance. Should such a need arise in the future, the Court will order the parties to

show cause regarding such appointment sua sponte. 

On March 17, 2006, plaintiff filed a motion in which he requests that the Court order

Case 3:04-cv-05069-MMC Document 36 Filed 03/30/06 Page 1 of 2
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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Plaintiff explains he is not allowed to go to the law library because on a previous

occasion, while en route to that facility, he violated prison rules by passing a periodical to

another inmate through a cell door. 

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prison officials to provide plaintiff access to the law library, to allow plaintiff to meet his

“deadline” of March 19, 2006. Plaintiff has no such deadline; he already has filed his

opposition to defendants’ motion. Additionally, plaintiff states that prison officials have put

him on “cell study,” under which prison officials bring plaintiff’s requested legal materials to

him in his cell.1

 Although prison officials must ensure that prisoners "have a reasonably

adequate opportunity to file nonfrivolous legal claims challenging their convictions or

conditions of confinement," such officials are free to devise their own methods to reach that

result. See Lewis v. Casey, 518 U.S. 343, 352, 356 (1996) (stating right of access to courts

“guarantees no particular methodology” by which prison officials must confer capability to

pursue claims in court). Although plaintiff has a right to reasonable access to legal materials

to pursue this action, he does not have a right to view those materials in the SHU law library. 

Prison officials shall, of course, provide plaintiff reasonable access to legal materials, as

required by Lewis and its progeny.

Accordingly, plaintiff’s motions for access to the law library and for funds for an

expert witness are DENIED. 

This order terminates Docket Nos. 31 and 34. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: March 30, 2006 _________________________

MAXINE M. CHESNEY

United States District Judge

Case 3:04-cv-05069-MMC Document 36 Filed 03/30/06 Page 2 of 2