Opinion ID: 378181
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Denial of free access to photocopying machine.

Text: 10 The Supreme Court in Bounds v. Smith, 430 U.S. 817, 97 S.Ct. 1491, 52 L.Ed.2d 72 (1977), held the fundamental constitutional right of access to the courts requires prison authorities to assist inmates in the preparation and filing of meaningful legal papers by providing prisoners with an adequate law library or adequate assistance from persons trained in the law. 11 Harrell seems to conclude from Bounds that he is entitled not only to unrestricted access to the courts but also to completely free access as well. Our interpretation of Bounds does not support appellant's conclusion. 12 This court has held that inmates do not have an unlimited right to free postage, an absolute right to use a typewriter or an absolute right to have one's pleadings typed, in connection with the right of access to the courts. See Twyman v. Crisp, 584 F.2d 352 (10th Cir. 1978). 13 Harrell contended the denial of his request for free photocopying denied him access to the Supreme Court because the Clerk of the Supreme Court would not file his two petitions for certiorari until copies of the judgments and/or decrees sought to be reviewed were appended to his petitions. 14 The Rules of the Supreme Court do not appear to support appellant's conclusory allegation. The rules do not require photocopies of judgments and/or decrees sought to be reviewed to be appended to the petitions for certiorari. See Sup.Ct.R. 23, § 1(i), (j) and § 2. Although Rule 23(2) requires petitions to be printed, Sup.Ct.R. 39(4) provides Printing, as the term is used in these rules, shall include any process capable of producing a clear black image on white paper . . . . Rule 39(4) further provides illegible papers filed with the Clerk of the Supreme Court may need to be substituted, but the filing shall not be untimely. Furthermore motions can be filed to dispense with printing. See Snider v. Allstate Administrators, Inc., 414 U.S. 685, 94 S.Ct. 771, 39 L.Ed.2d 90 (1974). Moreover Sup.Ct.R. 53(2) provides that a petition for writ of certiorari filed in forma pauperis should comply in all respects with the rules governing the same, except that it shall be sufficient to file a single copy thereof. 15 Based on the above, the record does not support a claim of denial of access to the courts through the application of the photocopying policy. 16 This case presents a slightly different factual picture than Twyman. However, the fundamental issue is the same and the rationale of Twyman applies with full force here. Reasonable regulations are necessary to balance the legitimate interests of inmate litigants with budgetary considerations and to prevent abuse. 17 A prisoner's right of access to the court does not include the right of free unlimited access to a photocopying machine, particularly when as here, there are suitable alternatives. 18