Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_03-cv-00591/USCOURTS-caed-2_03-cv-00591-12/pdf.json

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

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KING HALL CIVIL RIGHTS CLINIC

CARTER C. WHITE SBN: 164149

U.C. Davis School of Law

One Shields Avenue, Bldg. TB-30

Davis, CA 95616-8821

Telephone: (530) 752-5440

Fax: (530) 752-5788

Attorneys for Plaintiff

GARY SIMPSON

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

Gary Simpson,

Plaintiff,

vs.

Sergeant Thomas,

Defendant.

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No. 2:03-cv-0591-MCE-GGH-P

STIPULATION AND ORDER

ALLOWING PLAINTIFF TO WEAR

STREET CLOTHES AT TRIAL

Trial: February 28, 2007

Judge: Hon. Morrison C. England, Jr.

The parties, through their undersigned counsel of record, hereby stipulate and agree that

Plaintiff, Gary Simpson, may wear street clothes at the trial scheduled for February 28, 2007 at

9:00 a.m. General Order No. 441 does not apply to this case because Mr. Simpson is the Plaintiff

in a civil case rather than defendant in a criminal proceeding and does not pose a similar threat to

the security of the courtroom. To the extent possible, every attempt will be made to prevent the

jury from viewing the Plaintiff in any attire other than street clothes, and to avoid the jury seeing

the Plaintiff in shackles, leg irons, chains, or other similar restrictive devices. 

To the extent that Plaintiff is required to wear leg irons during trial, and to the extent that

the courtroom is configured in such a way that his feet will be seen by the jury, a scrim or other

means of obstructing the jury’s view of any leg restraints will be provided for Plaintiff. 

Plaintiff’s hands shall not be cuffed or otherwise restrained while the jury is present, and Plaintiff

may write notes to his counsel during the proceedings. Plaintiff is to be seated in the courtroom

before the jury enters and shall remain seated until the jury is dismissed.

Case 2:03-cv-00591-MCE -GGH Document 175 Filed 02/22/07 Page 1 of 3
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Though the jury will know that Mr. Simpson is an inmate, and was at the time of the

incident that forms the basis for this case, this stipulation is nonetheless necessary. There is a

psychological significance, both for Mr. Simpson and for the jury, to Mr. Simpson not wearing

leg irons. It is possible that the jury would view Mr. Simpson more negatively if he wore leg

irons in the courtroom. The risk that the jury would make such a judgment and that it might

affect the fairness of Mr. Simpson’s trial leads the parties to respectfully request that the Court

enter this stipulation as an Order of the Court. 

Dated: February 20, 2007.

Signed:

/S/ Carter C. White

_______________________

Carter C. White

Attorney for Plaintiff

/S/ Misha D. Igra

_________________________

Misha D. Igra

Attorney for Defendant

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The request for the plaintiff to wear street clothes during the trial is DENIED. The Court

previously ruled on this issue and will not entertain any further requests of this nature. The

Plaintiff is a state prison inmate. The issues for trial involve his custody in a state prison. He

will be flanked by two uniformed correctional officers in the courtroom during all stages of the

trial. Any potential prejudice to the Plaintiff because of his attire during the trial is minimal at

best.

With respect to leg irons, shackles and/or handcuffs, Plaintiff will not be restrained with

such devices unless his behavior during the trial calls for it.

As for how and when the Plaintiff is to be seated in the courtroom, that decision will be

one left to the Court and not determined by a stipulation of the parties. The Court will utilize the

same procedures as are used for all prisoner cases.

 IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: February 22, 2007

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MORRISON C. ENGLAND, JR.

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 2:03-cv-00591-MCE -GGH Document 175 Filed 02/22/07 Page 3 of 3