Brown v. Plata

Disclosure: Akin Gump represents California State Republican Legislator Intervenors, et al. in this case.

Holding: 1)The court below did not err in concluding that overcrowding in California prisons was the primary cause of the continuing violations of prisoners constitutional rights to adequate health care. 2) The evidence supported the conclusion of the three-judge panel that a population limit was necessary to remedy the overcrowding problem. 3) The relief ordered by the three-judge court the population limit was narrowly drawn, extended no further than necessary to correct the violation, and was the least intrusive means necessary to correct the violation.

Plain English Holding: A federal court lawfully ordered California to reduce its prison population to remedy long-standing constitutional violations arising from prison overpopulation.

Judgment: United States District Courts for the Eastern District and the Northern District of California affirmed, 5-4, in an opinion by Justice Kennedy on May 23, 2011. Justice Scalia wrote a dissenting opinion, which was joined by Justice Thomas. Justice Alito also wrote a dissenting opinion, which was joined by the Chief Justice.

SCOTUSblog Coverage

• Partial OK for prisoner release (Lyle Denniston)
• This Week at the Court: In Plain English (Lisa McElroy)
• Argument recap: Jousting over prisoner release (Lyle Denniston)
• Argument day podcasts: Schwarzenegger v. Plata (Adam Schlossman)
• Argument preview: Crowded prisons, inmates' rights (Lyle Denniston)
• More time for prison release case (Lyle Denniston)
• UPDATE: Inmate release up for review (Lyle Denniston)

Briefs and Documents

Merits Briefs

• Opening Brief of Appellants-Intervenors California State Republican Legislators et al.
• Brief of Appellants Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger et al.
• Brief of Appellee Intervenor California Correctional Peace Officers Association
• Brief of Appellees Marciano Plata et al.
• Brief of Appellees Ralph Coleman et al.
• Response of Appellants-Intervenors California State Republican Legislators et al.
• Consolidated reply brief of Appellants Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger et al.
• Intervenors Response

Amicus Briefs

• Brief for Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce in Support of Appellants
• Brief for the Criminal Justice Legal Foundation in Support of Appellants
• Brief for the States of Louisiana, Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia in Support of Appellants
• Motion for Leave to File Out of Time Amicus Curiae Brief and Brief for J. Clark Kelso, Receiver for Medical Healthcare for the California State Prisons in Support of Neither Party
• Brief for Corrections and Law Enforcement Personnel in Support of Appellees
• Brief for the American Civil Liberties Union, Human Rights Watch, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, and Penal Reform International/The Americans in Support of Affirmance
• Brief for the American Public Health Association, American Nurses Association, American Association of Public Health Physicians, Academy of Correctional Health Professionals, and the Society of Correctional Physicians in Support of Appellees
• Brief for the American Bar Association in Support of Appellees and Correctional Officer Intervenors
• Brief for the American Psychiatric Association, California Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association, California Psychological Association, American Academy of Psychiatry And The Law, Judge David L. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, Forensic Mental Health Association of California, National Alliance On Mental Illness, and NAMI-California in Support of Appellees
• Brief for the Center on the Administration of Criminal Law and 30 Criminologists in Support of Appellees
• Brief for Prison Fellowship, Aleph Institute, American Friends Service Committee, California Council of Churches, Friends Committee on Legislation of California, General Synod of the United Church of Christ, Islamic Shura Council of Southern California, Leadership Conference of Women Religious, National Association of Evangelicals, National Council of Churches, Paulist National Catholic Evangelization Association, Progressive Jewish Alliance, Sojourners, Union for Reform Judaism, and Unitarian Universalist Association in Support of Appellees

Certiorari-Stage Documents

• Opinion below | Order to reduce the prison population (United States District Courts for the Eastern District and the Northern District of California)
• Jurisdictional statement
• Motion to dismiss or affirm by Appellees Marciano Plata et al. (unavailable)
• Motion to dismiss or affirm by Appellees Ralph Coleman et al. (unavailable)
• Motion to dismiss or affirm by Intervenor California Correctional Peace Officers’ Association (unavailable)
• Consolidated opposition to motions to dismiss or affirm (unavailable)