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Ninth Circuit Says Qualified Immunity Warranted for Comb-Binding Denial
On December 2, 2009, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals found that a prison librarian was entitled to qualified immunity for denying a prisoner’s request to comb-bind his legal papers.
Oregon prisoner Frank Phillips intended to file a petition for writ of certiorari, challenging his conviction in the U.S. Supreme …
Oregon prisoner Frank Phillips intended to file a petition for writ of certiorari, challenging his conviction in the U.S. Supreme …
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More from this issue:
- Crime Labs in Crisis: Shoddy Forensics Used to Secure Convictions, by Matthew Clarke
- Prisoners of the Census in New York: Democracy on the March!, by Eric Lotke
- From the Editor, by Paul Wright
- New York Prisons Avoid Budget Axe, by David Reutter
- Are Doctors Complicit in Prison Torture? The Maine Medical Community Looks at Solitary Confinement, by Lance Tapley
- State Auditor Issues Report on Washington Department of Corrections
- $13 Million Settlement in DC Mass Arrest of Protestors, by David Reutter
- Settlement Allows North Carolina Prisoners to Receive Compensation for Writings, by David Reutter
- Expanded Eligibility for New York Medical Parole Has Little Effect, by Matthew Clarke
- Ex-Cons Face Tougher Job Market in Great Recession, by David Reutter
- Governing Through Crime: How the War on Crime Transformed American Democracy and Created a Culture of Fear, by Jonathan Simon (Oxford University Press 2007), 344 pages, by Ian Head
- New York Prison Chaplain Accused of Smuggling Weapons
- Prisoners’ Self-Help Litigation Manual, 4th Edition, by John Boston and Daniel Manville, Oxford University Press, 960 Pages, $39.95, by Paul Wright
- Former President of Florida Sheriff’s Association Enters Plea in Kickback Scheme, by David Reutter
- $3.125 Million in Settlements in Oregon Prisoner’s Beating Death
- Tennessee Judge Facing Misconduct Charges Tries to Depose Disciplinary Counsel, by Matthew Clarke
- Pennsylvania Prisoner Awarded $185,000 in Civil Rights Claim; Harassment Continues, by David Reutter
- Ninth Circuit Says Qualified Immunity Warranted for Comb-Binding Denial, by Mark Wilson
- Washington Prisoners Need Not Show Prima Facie Case Upon Challenging Prison Discipline, by David Reutter
- Virginia Issues Report on Monitoring of Sex Offenders Subject to Registration
- Georgia Ends Contact Visits for Death Row Prisoners, by David Reutter
- Texas Controversy: Governor Guts Forensic Science Commission, by Matthew Clarke
- For Lease: Never-Used 525-Bed Oregon Jail, $45 Million or Best Offer, by Mark Wilson
- Seventh Circuit Upholds Ban on Dungeons & Dragons, by Brandon Sample
- New York Prison Superintendents Live in Lap of Luxury on Taxpayer Subsidy
- Third Circuit Reverses $642,398.57 Attorney Fee Award for RFRA Claim by Immigration Prisoner
- U.S. Supreme Court: No Bivens Remedy Available Against PHS Staff, by Brandon Sample
- Fraudsters Sentenced in Cornell Prison Construction Scheme, by Brandon Sample
- Successful Appellate Ruling Invalidating Statute Creates Prevailing Party for Attorney Fee Award, by David Reutter
- Exhaustion Excused Where Warden Misled Prisoner During Grievance Process, by Brandon Sample
- Ninth Circuit: Los Angeles County Not Liable for Occasional Over-Detentions, by Michael Brodheim
- Female Assistant Attorney General Pleads Guilty in Wife-Beating Case, by Mark Wilson
- Sexual Abuse of Youths at Tennessee Juvenile Facility Widespread, by David Reutter
- Fake Rape Claim Puts Woman in Prison, by Brandon Sample
- News in Brief:
- Limitations Period in Suit Over Delay in Providing Surgery Begins When Prisoner is Recommended for Surgery, by Brandon Sample
More from Mark Wilson:
- Indiana Prisoner Sues Prison Abolition Group, Wins $1,097 Default Judgment, April 26, 2024
- Eighth Circuit Affirms Denial of Qualified Immunity to Minnesota Jail Guard Accused of Grabbing and Squeezing Detainee’s Penis, Feb. 1, 2024
- Former Oregon Prison Nurse Gets 30 Years for Raping Prisoners, Dec. 1, 2023
- After Ninth Circuit Refuses to Compel Arbitration, National Class Certified in HRDC’s Challenge to Jail and Prison Debit Card Fees, Oct. 15, 2023
- Seventh Circuit Revives Illinois Prisoner’s Claim Over Knee Surgery Delayed 29 Months, Oct. 15, 2023
- Fourth Circuit Reinstates North Carolina Prisoner’s Suit, Finding Grievance Procedure Availability an Open Question, Oct. 15, 2023
- Congress Forces BOP to Upgrade Security Cameras, Sept. 15, 2023
- Oregon Will Hold Release Hearings for 73 Prisoners Sentenced to LWOP as Juveniles, Sept. 15, 2023
- Senators Slam “Egregious” Prisoner Sexual Abuse by BOP Employees, Sept. 15, 2023
- Minnesota Supreme Court Denies Qualified Immunity for Delayed Transfer of Sex Offenders, Sept. 15, 2023
More from these topics:
- Fourth Circuit Revives North Carolina Prisoner’s Suit Blaming Lazy Guards for Assault by Detainee, May 1, 2026. Failure to Protect (General), Qualified Immunity, 42 U.S. Code § 1983, civil action for deprivation of rights, Cruel and Unusual Punishment, Deliberate Indifference.
- $2.75 Million Paid by Washington County and NaphCare for Jail Detainee’s Suicide, April 1, 2026. Naphcare, Qualified Immunity, Medical Neglect/Malpractice, Suicides, Deliberate Indifference.
- $10.3 Million Paid for Teen’s Death at Kansas Juvenile Detention Facility, April 1, 2026. Restraints, Qualified Immunity, Excessive Force (Wrongful Death), 42 U.S. Code § 1983, civil action for deprivation of rights, Wrongful Use of Force.
- Eighth Circuit Revives Case Against Guards Who Failed to Intervene As Chaplain Sexually Assaulted Arkansas Prisoner, March 1, 2026. Staff-Prisoner Assault, Failure to Protect (General), Prison Rape Elimination Act, Qualified Immunity, Failure to Train/Supervise.
- Sixth Circuit Revives Michigan Prisoner’s Challenge to Guard Tackle That Broke His Foot, March 1, 2026. Evidentiary Ruling (Disciplinary Hearings), Guard Brutality/Beatings, Summary Judgment, Qualified Immunity, Wrongful Use of Force.
- Louisiana Prisoner Sustains Claim Against Prison Doctor for Allowing Assignment to “Field Duty” Despite Known Ankle Injury, March 1, 2026. Inability to Work, Skeletal Injury, Summary Judgment, Qualified Immunity, Deliberate Indifference.
- Tenth Circuit Affirmed Denial of Guards Qualified Immunity in Disabled Detainee’s Fourteenth Amendment Claim, March 1, 2026. Failure to Treat, Qualified Immunity, Fourteenth Amendment, rights, 42 U.S. Code § 1983, civil action for deprivation of rights, Deliberate Indifference.
- Michigan Claws Back $1.2 Million Paid to Wrongfully Convicted Former Prisoner, Feb. 1, 2026. Police Misconduct, Wrongful Imprisonment, Qualified Immunity, Forensic Sciences, Fabrication of Evidence.
- Ninth Circuit: Notice of Appeal of Order Denying Qualified Immunity Must Be Filed Within 30 Days of Entry, Feb. 1, 2026. Liberty Interests, Evidence, Qualified Immunity, Fourteenth Amendment, rights.
- Sixth Circuit Affirms Denial of Qualified Immunity for Michigan Jailer Accused of Retaliatory Assault, Jan. 1, 2026. Retaliation, Guard Brutality/Beatings, Qualified Immunity, 42 U.S. Code § 1983, civil action for deprivation of rights, Deliberate Indifference.

