Opinion ID: 149986
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Physical access to law library

Text: Whether a prisoner-defendant has received meaningful access to the courts is an issue to be reviewed de novo. United States v. Cooper, 375 F.3d 1041, 1051 (10th Cir. 2004). Mr. Stanley asserts that his constitutional right of access to the courts includes physical access to a prison law library. His position, however, is squarely foreclosed by this court’s holdings in United States v. Taylor, 183 F.3d 1199 (10th Cir. 1999). In that case, we stated that “while prisoners . . . have a right to adequate, effective and meaningful access to the courts, access to a law library is only one of many constitutionally acceptable methods used to assure meaningful access to the courts.” Id. at 1204. Providing standby legal counsel -5- for assistance at trial is “the equivalent” of allowing library access. Id. And in any event, a trial court is “under no obligation to provide law library access” to a prisoner “who voluntarily, knowingly and intelligently waives his right to counsel in a criminal proceeding.” Id. at 1205. We decline to revisit the issue.