Document: 541 U.S. 637 NELSONv.CAMPBELL, COMMISSIONER, ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, ET AL. No. 03-6821. Supreme Court of United States. Argued March 29, 2004. Decided May 24, Three days before his scheduled execution by lethal injection, petitioner filed a 42 U. S. C. § 1983 action against respondent Alabama prison officials, alleging that the use "cut-down" procedure requiring an incision into arm or leg to access severely compromised veins constituted cruel and unusual punishment deliberate indifference medical needs in violation Eighth Amendment. Petitioner, who had already unsuccessful federal habeas application, sought permanent injunction cut-down's use, temporary stay so District could consider claim's merits, orders respondents furnish copy protocol on procedures for venous directing them promulgate comports with contemporary standards. Respondents moved dismiss complaint want jurisdiction grounds claim request were equivalent second successive application subject 28 2244(b)'s gatekeeping requirements. Agreeing, dismissed because not obtained authorization file such application. In affirming, Eleventh Circuit held method-of-execution challenges necessarily sound habeas, it would have denied request. Held: Section is appropriate vehicle petitioner's Amendment seeking injunctive relief. Pp. 643-651. (a) must yield statute where inmate seeks relief challenging fact conviction duration sentence. Such claims fall within core habeas. By contrast, constitutional confinement conditions outside may be brought under first instance. The need reach here difficult question how should classified generally. conceded facing bring "deliberate indifference" challenge cut-down procedure's constitutionality if used gain treatment. There no reason complaint's face treat differently solely he has been condemned die. part procedure, actually execution. However, necessary prerequisite does imply particular means gaining likewise necessary. Petitioner argued throughout proceedings warden's refusal provide reliable information are wholly unnecessary access. If, after evidentiary hearing, finds necessary, will address broader left open here. instant holding consistent this Court's approach civil rights damages actions, which also at margins 643-647. (b) If follows lesser included (or preliminary injunction) either. Here, fair reading leaves doubt enjoin cut-down, injection. asked execution, seemingly without regard whether State did resort cut-down. warrant now expired. reschedules while case pending remand another similarly broad stay, rather than merely allegedly precursor properly sounds 647-648. (c) incorrect reversal floodgates all manner last-minute requests. Because resolve generally, extremely limited. Moreover, stating cognizable as matter right. A court application's nature deciding grant equitable And ability free inmates from substantive procedural limitations Prison Litigation Reform Act 1995. 649-651. 347 F. 3d 910, reversed remanded. O'CONNOR, J., delivered opinion unanimous Court. CERTIORARI TO THE UNITED STATES COURT APPEALS FOR ELEVENTH CIRCUIT. Bryan A. Stevenson cause petitioner. With him briefs Michael Kennedy McIntyre, appointment Court, 540 1102, H. Victoria Smith, LaJuana Davis. Kevin Newsom, Solicitor General Alabama, respondents. brief Richard Allen, Acting Attorney General, B. Billingsley, Deputy General.* JUSTICE O'CONNOR 1 David Nelson pursuant Rev. Stat. 1979, 1983, violate one merits claim. us We answer affirmative, reverse contrary judgment Circuit, further opinion. 2 * suit pleading stage, we assume allegations true. was found guilty jury 1979 capital murder sentenced death. Following two resentencings, June 3, 2002, affirmed denial petition most recent death v. 292 1291. Up until time disposition, employed electrocution its sole method On July 1, changed though still allowed opt upon written notification 30 entry whichever later. Ala. Code 15-18-82.1 (Lexis Supp. 2003). failed make timely request, waived option executed electrocution. 3 This certiorari review Circuit's decision 2003. 538 926. Two weeks later, General's office set date. App. 81. responded letter "ha[d] plans contest [the] motion," agreeing "that date promptly immediate future." Id., 89. Hearing objection, September 2003, October 9, 4 Due years drug abuse, peripheral veins, inaccessible standard techniques intravenous access, needle. 7. August counsel contacted Grantt Culliver, warden Holman Correctional Facility take place, discuss condition might impact injection procedure. Counsel specifically requested State's prior privately retained physician consult about 8-9, 25-26. advised protocol, but stated her. He nevertheless assured "medical personnel" present during evaluate speak arrival Facility. 8, 26. 5 transferred shortly Warden Culliver nurse met examined 10, 9-10. Upon confirming informed personnel cut 0.5-inch catheterize vein 24 hours 11. At meeting Friday, dramatically altered prognosis: 2-inch leg; place hour execution; only local anesthesia used. 12. assurance perform even immediately Department Corrections Legal requesting protocol. 13, 27. legal department counsel's 28. 6 following Monday, three so-called serious 21 (complaint), 102 (amended complaint). sought: cut-down; allow claim; order setting forth access; respondents, consultation experts, standards care. 22. Appended affidavit Dr. Mark Heath, board certified anesthesiologist assistant professor Columbia University College Physicians Surgeons, attesting dangerous antiquated performed trained clinical environment patient deep sedation. light safer less-invasive Heath concluded "there comprehensible planning employ obtain unless there exists intent render more painful risky otherwise be." 37. 7 accompanying "`functional equivalent'" provisions 2244(b). 82. agreed and, required 2244(b)(3), complaint. divided panel affirmed. Relying Fugate Corrections, 301 1287 (2002), majority 912 (2003). that, construe appeal authorization, deny show purported violation, "`no reasonable factfinder [him] underlying offense.'" Ibid. (quoting 2244(b)(2)(B)(ii)). Thus, recourse Federal granted certiorari, 1046 (2003), reverse. II 8 authorizes "suit equity, other proper proceeding redress," any person who, color state law, "subjects, causes subjected, citizen States . deprivation rights, privileges, immunities secured Constitution." Petitioner's states Despite literal applicability, however, specific statute, attendant exhaustion requirements, See Preiser Rodriguez, 411 475, 489 (1973). "core" corpus thus when 1983. prisoner's confinement, monetary relief, Muhammad Close, 749, 750 (2004) (per curiam); Preiser, supra, 498-499. 9 yet occasion suits execution—e. g., electrocution—fall or, rather, they viewed inmate's Neither "conditions" nor "fact duration" label particularly apt. effectuating sentence directly call "fact" "validity" itself—by simply altering can go forward Cf. Weaver Graham, 450 32-33, n. 17 (1981) (no ex post facto change humane method). hand, imposition penalty presupposes carrying out. legislature established preferred see 15-18-82 2003) (lethal default method), permanently amount itself. finding unconstitutionality require statutory amendment variance, imposing significant costs administration penal system. makes little sense talk "duration" sentence, retains interest meting out fashion. Calderon Thompson, 523 538, 556-557 (1998); re Blodgett, 502 236, 238 (1992) McCleskey Zant, 499 467, 491 (1991) ("[T]he power pass laws cannot enforce them"). 10 categorize oral argument purposes providing Tr. Oral Arg. 40 ("I don't disagree occurring divorced indeed valid claim"); Estelle Gamble, 429 97, 104 (1976) ("We therefore conclude prisoners constitutes `unnecessary wanton infliction pain' proscribed Amendment" (citation omitted)). 11 counter is, fact, They offer argument: habeas; to, indispensable of, procedure; therefore, achieving Even accept given respondents' premise conclusion follow. That Indeed, gravamen entire gratuitous. Merely labeling something insufficient insulate attack. 12 statutorily mandated factual unable unwilling concede acceptable alternatives stronger success coupled But careful these proceedings, argument, assert well regarding alleged used, proceed scheduled. (complaint) (proffering "less invasive, less painful, faster, cheaper, safer" alternative "percutaneous central line placement"); id., 37-38 (affidavit Heath) (describing relative percutaneous placement). No requires (saying injection), offered duly-promulgated regulations contrary. 13 hearing concludes described administering question, here, An likelihood unnecessary, seems willing implement proposed alternatives. 45-46 think disagreement placement will, necessary"). 14 note our which, like challenges, Although available remedy, previously "necessarily imply" invalidity conviction, length obtains favorable termination state, Heck Humphrey, 512 477, 487 (1994); Edwards Balisok, 520 641, 648 (1997). "favorable termination" requirement prevent doing indirectly through actions what do relief—challenge their complying statute. Muhammad, S., 751. so, stress importance term "necessarily." For instance, acknowledged lawfulness search revealed evidence convict trial, plaintiff's unlawful." 487, (noting doctrines inevitable discovery, independent source, harmless error). To hold off potentially plaintiff never termination—suits gone convicted. context, focusing attention both protects circumvent limits imposed minimizes extent imminent differential treatment claims. B 15 remains subsequently recharacterized injunction, 49, transformed validity Normally, not. 16 complication case, however. prayer among things, "[e]nter granting staying [petitioner's] currently 2003." Though specify seeking, asking same said There, explicitly observation maintained, outset litigation, attempt methods engaging 51-52; 93-94 Culliver). undermines assertions that: (1) tactic delay, (2) dispensable Whatever problem failing caused entered 18 3626(a)(2) ("Preliminary [in cases] narrowly drawn, extend correct harm least intrusive harm"). C argue last minute But, 19 previous Gomez Dist. Northern Cal., 503 653 curiam), clear, mere came motion vacate en banc Appeals Ninth California's gas chamber. vacated nonetheless. inmate, Robert Alton Harris, four applications, waited eleventh despite years: "This decade ago. good abusive compounded attempts manipulate judicial process. relief." 654. 20 "[e]quity consideration strong attempt[s] manipulation." district harms parties, delayed unnecessarily bringing Given enforcing criminal judgments, 239; McCleskey, 491, presumption stay. Finally, claim, entirely limitations. 1995 (Act) imposes scope including issuing "[a] shall give substantial weight adverse operation justice system 3626(a)(1); accord, 3626(a)(2). It exhaust administrative remedies confinement. 110 1321-71, 1997e(a) ("No respect section title, prisoner confined jail, prison, correctional facility exhausted"). mandates "shall," own motion, "any title satisfied frivolous, malicious, fails granted, defendant immune 1997e(c)(1). frivolous face, exhausted remedies. 1997e(c)(2). 22 reasons herein, reversed, remanded 23 ordered. Notes: Briefs ofamici curiae urging affirmance Ohio et al. Jim Petro, Ohio, Douglas R. Cole, Solicitor, Christopher D. Stock, Charles L. Wille, Assistant Morano, Chief Connecticut, Attorneys respective follows: Terry Goddard Arizona, Bill Lockyer California, Ken Salazar Colorado, M. Jane Brady Delaware, Charlie Crist Florida, Thurbert E. Baker Georgia, Lawrence G. Wasden Idaho, Lisa Madigan Illinois, Steve Carter Indiana, Phill Kline Kansas, Gregory Stumbo Kentucky, Foti, Jr., Louisiana, Hood Mississippi, Jeremiah W. (Jay) Nixon Missouri, Mike McGrath Montana, Jon Bruning Nebraska, Brian Sandoval Nevada, Patricia Madrid New Mexico, Roy Cooper North Carolina, Drew Edmondson Oklahoma, Gerald J. Pappert Pennsylvania, Henry Dargan McMaster South Long Dakota, Paul Summers Tennessee, Greg Abbott Texas, Shurtleff Utah, Jerry Kilgore Virginia, Patrick Crank Wyoming; Criminal Justice Foundation Kent Scheidegger; Senator Orrin Hatch Ed Haden. George Kendall Laurie Dill, D., amici curiae.

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