Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_90-cv-00520/USCOURTS-caed-2_90-cv-00520-557/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

---

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURTS

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

AND THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT COMPOSED OF THREE JUDGES

PURSUANT TO SECTION 2284, TITLE 28 UNITED STATES CODE

RALPH COLEMAN, et al.,

Plaintiffs,

v.

EDMUND G. BROWN JR., et al.,

Defendants.

NO. CIV S-90-0520 LKK JFM P

THREE-JUDGE COURT

MARCIANO PLATA, et al.,

Plaintiffs,

v.

EDMUND G. BROWN JR., et al.,

Defendants.

NO. C01-1351 TEH

THREE-JUDGE COURT

ORDER RE: DEFENDANTS’

JANUARY 7, 2013 MOTION TO

VACATE OR MODIFY

On January 7, 2013, defendants filed in this Court a motion to vacate or modify

(“Three-Judge Motion”) our June 30, 2011 Order requiring defendants to achieve a prison

population of 137.5% design capacity by June 27, 2013. Concurrently, defendants filed a

motion to terminate prospective relief in the Coleman v. Brown litigation (“Coleman

Motion”). Defendants did not, however, file a similar motion in the Plata v. Brown

litigation. Plaintiffs have not yet filed a response to the Three-Judge Motion, even though –

under our April 25, 2008 Order – a response was due on January 22, 2013.

One of defendants’ principal contentions in the Three-Judge Motion is that there are

no ongoing systemwide constitutional violations in medical and mental health care.

Case 2:90-cv-00520-KJM-SCR Document 4317 Filed 01/29/13 Page 1 of 3
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

2

Defendants also make this argument with respect to mental health care to the Coleman court

in the Coleman Motion. Defendants have not, however, made a similar argument with

respect to medical care to the Plata court and have not formally advised this Court whether

they intend to do so in the near future. It would be a waste of judicial resources for this

Court to begin to determine any issue until it is made aware of defendants’ filing plans

regarding the constitutional question. Accordingly, this Court directs defendants to answer

the following questions:

1. Do defendants intend to file a motion to terminate in the Plata litigation,

contending that there are no longer ongoing systemwide constitutional

violations with respect to medical care?

2. If so, when do defendants intend to file such a motion?

Defendants must respond within 14 days of the filing of this order. Pending further order of

this Court, our consideration of the Three-Judge Motion is STAYED.

Notwithstanding this stay, this Court directs plaintiffs to file a response to the ThreeJudge Motion within 14 days of the filing of this order. Plaintiffs should include declarations

to respond to the contentions made by defendants. Plaintiffs shall also show good cause for

their failure to file a response by the January 22, 2013 deadline. Defendants shall file a reply

to plaintiffs’ response within 21 days of the filing of this order.

This Court’s June 30, 2011 Order remains in effect pending our determination of these

issues, and defendants are reminded of their obligation to continue to comply with its terms

and provisions. Neither defendants’ filings of the papers filed thus far nor any motions,

declarations, affidavits, or other papers filed subsequently shall serve as a justification for

their failure to file and report or take any other actions required by this Court’s Order.

Defendants have advised us, however, that they are unable to meet the 137.5% prisoner

population cap by June 2013 but that they will be able to do so essentially by December 31,

2013. Accordingly, this Court modifies the June 30, 2011 Order by GRANTING defendants

a six-month extension in which to comply with its terms and provisions. Defendants are now

//

Case 2:90-cv-00520-KJM-SCR Document 4317 Filed 01/29/13 Page 2 of 3
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

3

required to achieve the 137.5% prisoner population cap by December 31, 2013. Defendants

shall take all steps necessary to comply with the Order as amended.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: 01/29/13 

STEPHEN REINHARDT

UNITED STATES CIRCUIT JUDGE

NINTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS

Dated: 01/29/13 

LAWRENCE K. KARLTON

SENIOR UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

Dated: 01/29/13 

THELTON E. HENDERSON

SENIOR UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

Case 2:90-cv-00520-KJM-SCR Document 4317 Filed 01/29/13 Page 3 of 3