Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_07-cv-01913/USCOURTS-caed-2_07-cv-01913-4/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 28:1983 Civil Rights

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ORLANDO PAYNE, 

Plaintiff, No. CIV S-07-1913 WBS EFB P

vs.

D. SISTO, et al.,

Defendants. ORDER

 /

Plaintiff is a prisoner without counsel suing for civil rights violations. See 42 U.S.C. 

§ 1983. Plaintiff initiated this action by filing, incorrectly, a petition for writ of habeas corpus

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. On October 11, 2007, the court dismissed the petition with leave

to file a complaint or to amend his petition as appropriate because plaintiff was seeking to

challenge the conditions of his confinement rather than the fact or duration of his conviction.

On November 1, 2007, plaintiff filed a complaint together with a request for an order

requiring that he be provided increased access to the law library to comply with the October 11

order. On November 13, 2007, he also filed a first amended petition. For the reasons stated

below, the request for an order to increase his library access is denied.

Prisoners have a First and Fourteenth Amendment right of access to the courts. Lewis v.

Casey, 518 U.S. 343, 346 (1996). This right comprehends “the opportunity to prepare, serve and

Case 2:07-cv-01913-WBS-EFB Document 21 Filed 12/27/07 Page 1 of 2
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file whatever pleadings or other documents are necessary or appropriate in order to commence or 

prosecute court proceedings affecting one’s personal liberty.” Id., at 384. The right “requires

prison authorities to assist inmates in the preparation and filing of meaningful legal papers by

providing prisoners with adequate law libraries or adequate assistance from persons trained in

the law.” Bounds v. Smith, 430 U.S. 817, 828 (1977). In his request, plaintiff asserts that in the

weeks before he had to file the complaint or amended petition, he was denied access to the law

library. However, he filed both a complaint and an amended petition (though he was only

instructed to file one or the other). The court finds that plaintiff has not demonstrated that he

lacked access to legal materials adequate to present his claims.

Accordingly, it is ORDERED that plaintiff’s November 1, 2007, request for an order

directing that he be given additional time in the law library is denied.

Dated: December 27, 2007.

Case 2:07-cv-01913-WBS-EFB Document 21 Filed 12/27/07 Page 2 of 2