Document: 482 U.S. 755 107 S.Ct. 2672 96 L.Ed.2d 654 Lowell D. HEWITT, et al., Petitionersv.Aaron HELMS. No. 85-1630. Argued March 4, 1987. Decided June 19, Syllabus After more than seven weeks in administrative segregation pending an investigation into his possible involvement a state prison riot, respondent inmate was found guilty of misconduct by hearing committee and sentenced to six months disciplinary confinement solely on the basis officer's report statements undisclosed informant. Respondent filed suit against petitioner officials for damages injunctive relief under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, but released parole before any decision rendered. Subsequently, Court Appeals reversed District Court's entry summary judgment respondent, finding, inter alia, that conviction constituted denial due process since it based hearsay. The instructed enter unless petitioners could establish immunity defense, given authority determine appropriateness availability requested. On remand, pursued only claim. granted qualified immunity, affirmed. While appeal pending, State Corrections Bureau (Bureau) revised its regulations include procedures use confidential source information proceedings. then denied respondent's claim attorney's fees ground he not "prevailing party" as required 1988, reversed, concluding prior holding constitutional rights had been violated "a form judicial relief." In alternative, court directed reconsider whether "catalyst" amendment Bureau's regulations. Held: is eligible 1988. A plaintiff must receive at least some merits can be said "prevail." obtained neither award, injunction, or declaratory judgment, nor consent decree, settlement, other without benefit formal judgment. Pp. 759-764. (a) favorable statement law course litigation results does suffice render him party." Appeals' treatment initial relief" presumably judgment—was error, ordered kind. Even if nonmonetary claims were rendered moot release from prison, those kept alive interest expunging record, counsel never took steps necessary have expungement order properly entered. argument "vindication rights" equivalent ignores fact decree end rather means prompting action (or cessation action) defendant. Here, nothing petitioners. Moreover, equating (even legal holdings en route final defendant) with judgments has practical effect depriving defendant valid defenses might take account deciding Furthermore, same considerations influence courts issue may opinions. However, they do, court's appealable manner 759-763. (b) alternative prompted amend also fails. demonstrate clear causal link between lawsuit amendment, "prevail" having complaint did terms request, obtain redress long time issued. 763—764. 780 F.2d 367 (CA3 1986), reversed. SCALIA, J., delivered opinion Court, which REHNQUIST, C.J., WHITE, POWELL, O'CONNOR, JJ., joined. MARSHALL, dissenting opinion, BRENNAN, BLACKMUN, STEVENS, joined, post, p. 764. Thomas G. Saylor, Jr., Somerset, Pa., Lawrence Wallace, Washington, D.C., United States, amicus curiae supporting petitioners, special leave Court. Robert Harold Vesely, Williamsport, respondent. Justice SCALIA 1 This case presents peculiar-sounding question party who litigates loses all nonetheless purposes award fees. 2 Following riot Pennsylvania Correctional Institution Huntingdon, Aaron Helms placed segregation, restrictive custody, disturbance. More later, committee, relying testimony informant, striking corrections officer during riot. confinement. 3 still incarcerated, brought 1983 number officials, alleging lack prompt charges uncorroborated hearsay process. asserted contested merits. Before rendered, parole. 4 Nearly after Helms' release, passing defendants' assertions immunity. Third Circuit finding "Helms afforded hearing, within reasonable [segregative] confinement, represented type 'risk' warranting detention," v. Hewitt, 655 487, 500 (1981) (Helms I ), "suffered being convicted charge when evidence offered recital, charging officer, unidentified informant." Id., 502. latter defendants defense. 5 proceedings remand place, we certiorari Due Process Clause. We concluded prison's informal, nonadversarial determining need custody provided prisoners are removed general population. Hewitt Helms, 459 460, 103 864, 74 675 (1983). Certiorari sought on, decide, rights. When returned Appeals, therefore reaffirmed instruction this established defense official 712 48 (1983) II ). 6 damages. because right "clearly established," Harlow Fitzgerald, 457 800, 818, 102 2727, 2738, 73 396 (1982), hearing. See App. 22a-47a. appealed, seeking both conviction. argued waived failure pursue them event no longer prison. first confidential-source BC-ADM 801 Administrative Directive: Inmate Disciplinary Procedures V(F) (1984), 101a-102a (Directive 801). affirmed opinion. 745 46 (1984) III 7 provides relevant part: "In proceeding enforce provision [§ 1983], court, discretion, allow prevailing party, fee part costs." party": precluded made moot, Directive benefited action. Pet. Cert. 27a-39a. serves affirm plaintiff's assertion actions unconstitutional will serve standard conduct guide future." 367, 370 (1986) IV 801. certiorari. 476 1181, 106 2914, 91 543 (1986). 8 litigant Whatever outer boundaries term be, fit them. Respect ordinary language requires prevail. Hanrahan Hampton, 446 754, 757, 100 1987, 1989, 64 670 (1980). relief. Because received award. No injunction entered favor. Nor judgment—for example, through settlement. Maher Gagne, 448 122, 129, 2570, 2575, 65 653 most interlocutory ruling should dismissed That stuff victories made. Cf. Hanrahan, supra, U.S., 758-759, S.Ct., 1989-1990. 9 treated 1981 relief"—presumably (since else even conceivable) It that. explicitly left "to requested relief," F.2d, 503; own, otherwise. contend point, result correct, record enough keep alive, Consequently, 10 settled law, course, judicially decreed justify sometimes produces voluntary affords judgment—e.g., monetary settlement change redresses grievances. occurs, deemed prevailed despite absence Maher, 2575. held, argues here, . rights," Brief relief, just informal way To suggest such equivalency lose sight nature civil litigation, means. At rainbow lies produces—the payment damages, specific performance, termination conduct. Redress less true real value pronouncement—what makes proper resolution "case controversy" advisory opinion—is settling dispute affects behavior towards plaintiff. "equivalency" doctrine simply acknowledgment primacy over obtained. If defendant, pressure lawsuit, pays money pronounced, "prevailed" suit, substance what sought. Likewise action: alters threatened conduct) prevailed. would produce effect; affect relationship equivalent. As consequence present defendants. "relief" moral satisfaction knowing federal violated. otherwise unfavorable There conceivable "prevailed," instance, decided published said: "The immune either waived, reverse violated." essence happened except expressed view before, after, become apparent irrelevant case. warrant status depend upon essentially arbitrary district appeals choose address issues. 11 Besides incompatibility principle, there very objection judgments: equation deprives entitled. Imagine following I, counsel, armed client's violated, pressed opportunity contest equitable grounds. mean should. 28 2201 (a "may declare relations interested declaration") (emphasis added); Public Affairs Associates, Inc. Rickover, 369 111, 112, 82 580, 582, 604 (1962); Eccles Peoples Bank Lakewood, 333 426, 431, 68 641, 644, 92 L.Ed. 784 (1948). If, unambiguously involved definitively "settle controversy parties," 10A C. Wright, A. Miller, & M. Kane, Federal Practice Procedure 2759, 648 (2d ed. 1983), preclude liability. generally E. Borchard, Declaratory Judgments 299 1941). circumstances provide predicate ultimately immune, thus undermine opinions—or 12 conclude Any strains statutory common sense. 13 held needed 1984 standards informant hearings. decide circumstances, any, theory State's regulations, get promulgation informant-testimony amended, Although subsequently now benefiting new (to extent administration directly applied), fortuity hardly him, retroactively, though 14 For reasons stated, 15 Reversed. 16 whom STEVENS join, dissenting. 17 sweeping help resolving my view, application facts case, tangled are, leads conclusions reached 18 * history complete, helpful. originally claimed procedural substantive violations connection conviction, raised addition pendent He record. 19a-21a. Petitioners alleged defenses, well contesting claims. initially causes 487 1981). reinstating grant noted concerning anonymous unaffected our decision, remanded favor immune. 48, 49 (1983); see 502-503 ("[O]n do Helms"). 19 "was so established" overcome petitioners' 47a. appealed second granting During pendency Commonwealth issued 801, 85a-116a, incorporated policies respect consistent earlier Appeals. 101a-102a. order. 1984). moved pursuant 20 Some aspects development difficult fathom, present, declares, claims." Ante, 757. Respondent's two stated viable cause violation word claim, however, spoken 21 devotes much demonstrating theoretical grounds think effort unnecessary; plain entering Instead, practice appellate courts, good matter instructions insofar incompatible any. 502-503. entitled remedy prevented ordering Pulliam Allen, 466 522, 543-544, 104 1970, 1981-1982, 80 565 (1984). record.1 Under order, could, probably should, up precipitately closing 48a. disposing relief.2 22 contends, agreed, issuance subsequent sort justifying Commonwealth's policy "catalyzed" lawsuit. sufficient support 129-130, 2574-2575, wisely leaves another day discussion characterized 763. But errs cannot constitute theory, derived it. not, request substance, functionally correctly states, "if prevailed." 761. observes once again prisons. toward effectively constrained today judgment.3 23 sum, premises: law; outstanding meritorious relief; foreclose fees; privity them, substantially prayer None these propositions subject serious dispute, none rejected today. remains, instituted resolved Should find error failing move clearly orders, conclusion await further factfinding. 24 disposition chaotic depends accidents extended conducted exemplary precision parties sensibly declines broadly applicable unreliable indulges exposition varies few ascertainable facts. review prudent exercise jurisdiction, doubt, occurred found, fog confusion dispelled, factual findings theory. taken position requests somehow mooted early stages litigation. 24. Indeed, represent "[respondent's] 1980." 10. flagrantly inaccurate. "plaintiff seek became controversy." 38a. authority, they, remarkable proposition Nor, depended explained how supposedly moot. contain briefs, Accordingly challenged clear, dispose claims, complaint. would, presently us give rectify substantial engendered characterizes renewed incarceration "fortuity," evidently implying relevance disclose imprisoned revocation proceedings, instead criminal revoked, temporary reincarceration, "fortuity" entitlement

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