Opinion ID: 762123
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Clear Statutory Mandate

Text: 58 We cannot accept this argument without ignoring the plain language of the PLRA. The statute entitles defendants to immediate termination of any prospective relief absent a finding of a current and ongoing violation of federal law. See 18 U.S.C. § 3626(b)(2), (b)(3). It also broadly defines prospective relief as including all relief other than compensatory monetary damages, 18 U.S.C. § 3626(g)(7). 7 Because the 1978 consent decree unquestionably fits within that definition, and because the district court made no findings of a current and ongoing violation of federal law, the law demands nothing less than the immediate termination of the consent decree. The Inmates cite no principle of law that allows us to disregard this unambiguous statutory mandate in order to preserve the consent decree. In effect, the Inmates have asked us to turn the termination provision on its head, and replace § 3626(b) with language prohibiting termination of consent decrees unless or until a state court agrees to enforce them. We decline their invitation to do so.