×
You've used up your 3 free articles for this month. Subscribe today.
Seventh Circuit Clarifies Standard for Recruiting Counsel in Pro Se Cases
Seventh Circuit Clarifies Standard for Recruiting Counsel in Pro Se Cases
by David Reutter
The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals has held that an Illinois federal district court, like many federal courts in Northern Illinois, used an improper standard when refusing to exercise …
Full article and associated cases available to subscribers.
As a digital subscriber to Prison Legal News, you can access full text and downloads for this and other premium content.
Already a subscriber? Login
More from this issue:
- DC Circuit: Federal Prisoner not Limited to Seeking Relief via Habeas Corpus, by Michael Brodheim
- Philadelphia Sued Over Rejection of Ad Criticizing U.S. Incarceration Policies, by Michael Brodheim
- California: Surety Entitled to Exoneration of Bail Bond Forfeited as a Result of Defendant’s Deportation, by Michael Brodheim
- High-Ranking Illinois Prison Official Fired due to Criminal History
- Seventh Circuit: Prisoner with Back Condition Stated Claim for Fall from Upper Bunk, by Michael Brodheim
- Liberty Interest Necessary to Trigger Arkansas Judicial Review, by Mark Wilson
- Report: Increase in Federal Prison Population, Overcrowding, by Derek Gilna
- Kansas: Prison Healthcare Officials Engaged in Continued Deliberate Indifference, by Robert Warlick
- D.A. Drops Charges Against Oklahoma Parole Board Members, by Christopher Zoukis
- Washington County Jail Remains Closed after Voters Reject Tax Hike
- Pennsylvania Warrantless, Suspicionless Search Probation Condition Held Invalid, by Mark Wilson
- Idaho Supreme Court Vacates Summary Judgment for Pepper Spray Manufacturer, by Mark Wilson
- Lawsuit Against Missouri Jail Proceeds as Two Guards Plead Guilty
- No “Reasonable Efforts” to Reunite Oregon Sex Offender with His Son, by Mark Wilson
- Reports on Elderly Prisoners Spur Call for Reforms
- States Adopt Sentencing Changes Following Supreme Court Ruling on Juvenile Lifers
- Prison Education Programs Threatened, by Matthew Clarke
- Oregon PPS Sanctions May Not Exceed 180 Days; Prior Contrary Ruling Overturned, by Mark Wilson
- California Prison Regulation Governing Gang Validation Upheld by Ninth Circuit, by Michael Brodheim
- Wisconsin DOC Equips Guards with Pepper Spray, Tasers
- Cancellation of BOP Elderly Offender Pilot Program Moots Appeal, by Michael Brodheim
- Research Finds that Conjugal Visits Correlate with Fewer Sexual Assaults
- Oregon Judge Scolded for Courtroom Rant, by Mark Wilson
- Pay Tel Receives Waiver of Prison Phone Rate Caps
- Connecticut Town Raises Stink Over Sewage Discharged by State Prison
- California: Trial Court Cannot Abdicate its Responsibility to Examine Peace Officer Personnel Records, by Michael Brodheim
- Massachusetts: Order Relieving Sex Offender of Registration Not Vacated Upon Probation Violation, by David Reutter
- Warden Granted Qualified Immunity for Two-year Visitation Suspension, by David Reutter
- Former Colorado DOC Official Pleads Guilty to Felony Menacing Charges
- Witness Protection Program Termination Unreviewable; 188 Days in SHU Triggers Due Process Protections, by Mark Wilson
- Second Circuit: Federal Prisoner States Conditions of Confinement Claim, by David Reutter
- Seventh Circuit Clarifies Standard for Recruiting Counsel in Pro Se Cases, by David Reutter
- North Dakota Courtroom Shackling Requires Independent Assessment by Judge, by Mark Wilson
- California Improves Compensation Process for Wrongfully Convicted Prisoners
- Florida Prison System Ordered to Provide Kosher Meals
- Book Review: Banking and Financial Management Course (1st Ed.), by Prisoner Assistant, by Gary Hunter
- California: Sexually Violent Predators May be Conditionally Released from Custody Even if Homeless, by Michael Brodheim
- Ninth Circuit: County May be Liable for Wrongful Conviction Even if District Attorney Enjoys Absolute Immunity
- Seventh Circuit Reverses Dismissal of Prisoner’s 99-Page Complaint, by Mark Wilson
- Massachusetts DOC, Hospital Officials Disciplined in Prisoner’s Death, by Derek Gilna
- From the Editor, by Paul Wright
- News in Brief
- A Home of Their Own, by Lisa Riordan Seville
More from David Reutter:
- Tenth Circuit: Colorado Governor Unentitled to Eleventh Amendment Immunity on Claim Related to DOC Religious Policies, Aug. 1, 2026
- Michigan Appeals Court: Witnesses Cannot be Forced to Wear Jail Clothes at Trial, Aug. 1, 2026
- Sixth Circuit Affirms Denial of State-Law Qualified Immunity in Scabies Case, Aug. 1, 2026
- Fourth Circuit Revives Disabled Prisoner’s Claim for Denial of Out-of-Cell Exercise Time, Aug. 1, 2026
- Sixth Circuit Announces State-Law Exceptions to Appeal Deadlines Preserve “Pending” Status Under AEDPA, Holding Belated-Appeal Procedures Toll Federal Habeas Limitations Period, April 1, 2026
- Florida Supreme Court Announces Rule 3.170(f)’s Good-Cause Plea-Withdrawal Standard Does Not Apply at Post-Appeal Resentencing, April 1, 2026
- Colorado Supreme Court Announces Defendant Must Be Competent Before Undergoing Mental-Condition Examination Under § 16-8-107(3)(b), April 1, 2026
- California Court of Appeal Announces Plea Agreements Cannot Bar § 1172.1 Resentencing, Holds Merit-Based Denial of Petition Is Appealable, April 1, 2026
- Georgia Supreme Court Clarifies That Failure to Object to Ineligible Juror Does Not Constitute Waiver Unless Party Knew or Could Have Discovered Ineligibility Through Ordinary Diligence, April 1, 2026
- Washington State Guard’s Conviction Affirmed in Self-Inflicted Gunshot Wound Scheme, March 1, 2026
More from these topics:
- At Least Three Guards Charged for Assaulting Two Massachusetts Prisoners, Aug. 1, 2026. Guard Misconduct, Guard Brutality/Beatings, Assaults on Staff, Wrongful Use of Force.
- Ombudsman Report Finds Use of Force Misapplied in Contraband Search, Aug. 1, 2026. Guard Misconduct, Failure to Treat, Body Cavity Searches, Guard Brutality/Beatings, Pepper Spray/Tear Gas.
- $1.2 Million for Elderly Detainee Shoved Out the Door of Sacramento Jail by Guard, Aug. 1, 2026. Guard Brutality/Beatings, Americans with Disabilities Act, Rehabilitation Act, Failure to Treat (Mental Illness), 42 U.S. Code § 1983, civil action for deprivation of rights.
- $6.35 Million Paid for Ohio Jail Detainee’s Spinal Cord Injury Caused by Guard, Aug. 1, 2026. Guard Misconduct, Malpractice, Guard Brutality/Beatings, Settlements, Wrongful Use of Force.
- San Diego Guard Sentenced for Shoving a Shackled Detainee, Aug. 1, 2026. Guard Misconduct, Guard Brutality/Beatings, False Statements/Perjury, Wrongful Use of Force.
- Wave of Staff Arrests Exposes Persistent Misconduct at South Carolina Jail, Aug. 1, 2026. Staff-Prisoner Assault, Guard Misconduct, Jail Misconduct, Guard Brutality/Beatings, Obstruction of Justice.
- Retroactive Guideline Amendments: The Narrow Path to a Federal Sentence Reduction, July 1, 2026. Appointment of Counsel, Career Offenders, Mandatory Minimum Sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2), Guideline Amendment/Variances and Retroactivity.
- CoreCivic’s Long Record of Abuse and Neglect in Tennessee, June 1, 2026. Corrections Corporation of America/CoreCivic, Systemic Medical Neglect, Guard Brutality/Beatings, Medical Neglect/Malpractice.
- Warden, Four Other Louisiana Jailers Indicted for Brutalizing Compliant Detainees with Riot Shield, June 1, 2026. Guard Misconduct, Guard Brutality/Beatings, Stun Guns/Tasers, Pepper Spray/Tear Gas, Wrongful Use of Force.
- $112,500 Paid to Former New Mexico Prisoner Denied Public Records of Excessive Force by Guards, June 1, 2026. DOC/BOP misconduct, Guard Brutality/Beatings, Settlements, Public Records Act, False Imprisonment.

