Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_16-cv-02492/USCOURTS-casd-3_16-cv-02492-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 530
Nature of Suit: Prisoner Petitions - Habeas Corpus
Cause of Action: 28:2254 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (State)

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16cv2492 PCL 

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

William Thornton, 

Petitioner,

v. 

Raythel Fisher, Jr., Warden, 

Respondent.

Case No.: 16cv2492 PCL 

ORDER DENYING MOTION 

FOR PRELIMINARY 

INJUNCTION (Doc. 43.) 

 Plaintiff requests preliminary injunctive relief in order to be allowed to use the law 

library more frequently than currently allowed by his prison. (Doc. 43, at 2.) Petitioner 

states that he is only allowed to use the law library on Tuesdays for a two-hour period. 

(Id.) 

To prevail on a motion for preliminary injunction, the moving party must show either 

“(1) a likelihood of success on the merits and the possibility of irreparable injury, or (2) 

the existence of serious questions going to the merits and the balance of hardships tipping 

in [the moving party’s] favor.” Oakland Tribune, Inc. v. Chronicle Publishing Co., Inc., 

762 F.2d 1374, 1376 (9th Cir. 1985) (citation omitted). The two formulations represent 

two points on a sliding scale with the focal point being the degree of irreparable injury 

shown. Oakland Tribune, 762 F.2d at 1376. “Under either formulation of the test, 

plaintiff must demonstrate that there exists a significant threat of irreparable injury.” Id. 

Case 3:16-cv-02492-PCL Document 58 Filed 03/14/18 PageID.<pageID> Page 1 of 2
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16cv2492 PCL 

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In the absence of a significant showing of irreparability, the court need not reach the issue 

of likelihood of success on the merits. Id. 

Plaintiff’s motion fails to meet the requirements for preliminary injunctive relief. 

Plaintiff has not demonstrated that he is likely to suffer irreparable harm in the absence of 

a preliminary injunction. An irreparable injury in this context would be prejudice Plaintiff 

would suffer in existing or contemplated litigation, such as the failure to meet a filing 

deadline due to inadequate access to the law library and/or his legal property. However, 

Plaintiff has been given an adequate litigation timetable to file his motions and to conduct 

his legal research. The Court has been generous in granting Plaintiff additional time to do 

his legal research because of the constraints that he currently experiences as a prisoner. 

Because Petitioner has effectively been given ample time to access the law library, the 

Court denies Plaintiff’s motion for injunctive relief at this time. 

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

DATE: March 14, 2018 

 

 Peter C. Lewis 

 United States Magistrate Judge 

Case 3:16-cv-02492-PCL Document 58 Filed 03/14/18 PageID.<pageID> Page 2 of 2