From Casetext: Smarter Legal Research

Eisenhardt v. Britton

United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
May 7, 1973
478 F.2d 855 (5th Cir. 1973)

Opinion

No. 73-1279. Summary Calendar.

Rule 18, 5 Cir.; see Isbell Enterprises, Inc. v. Citizens Casualty Co. of New York, et al., 5 Cir. 1970, 431 F.2d 409.

May 7, 1973.

James Henry Eisenhardt, pro se.

John W. Stokes, Jr., U.S. Atty., Beverly B. Bates, Asst. U.S. Atty., Atlanta, Ga., for defendants-appellees.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.

Before JOHN R. BROWN, Chief Judge, and DYER and SIMPSON, Circuit Judges.



Proceeding pro se, petitioner James Henry Eisenhardt, a former inmate of the Federal Penitentiary in Atlanta, Georgia, seeks redress in the form of damages from various prison officials for a tort which he dubs "abuse of process." The genesis of the conflict is a certain misconduct report filed by the defendants and charging the petitioner with the unlawful use of a prison typewriter to type a court petition. After months of patient accommodation to this law suit, the trial court granted defendants' motion to dismiss. We affirm.

While this court earnestly seeks to remain detached from the every day administrative problems of a prison, Royal v. Clark, 5 Cir., 1971, 447 F.2d 501; Krist v. Smith, 5 Cir., 1971, 439 F.2d 146; Granville v. Hunt, 5 Cir., 1969, 411 F.2d 9, we are never reluctant to strike down impediments to a prisoner's constitutionally guaranteed right of access to the courts. See Cruz v. Hauck, 5 Cir., 1973, 475 F.2d 475. But the availability of a typewriter is not necessary for judicial review. Durham v. Blackwell, 5 Cir., 1969, 409 F.2d 838; Tarlton v. Henderson, 5 Cir., 1972, 467 F.2d 200; Stubblefield v. Henderson, 5 Cir., 1973, 475 F.2d 26; Sprouse v. Moore Henderson, 5 Cir., 1973, 476 F.2d 995. Unless judicial intervention is necessary to secure constitutional rights, the courts will not interfere with matters of pure internal prison management. Clearly, appellant's conduct here is just such a matter.

Affirmed.


Summaries of

Eisenhardt v. Britton

United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
May 7, 1973
478 F.2d 855 (5th Cir. 1973)
Case details for

Eisenhardt v. Britton

Case Details

Full title:JAMES HENRY EISENHARDT, PLAINTIFF-APPELLANT, v. S. J. BRITTON ET AL.…

Court:United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit

Date published: May 7, 1973

Citations

478 F.2d 855 (5th Cir. 1973)

Citing Cases

United States ex Rel. Wolfish v. Levi

But there is no ground for ordering more by court decree. Eisenstadt v. Britton, 478 F.2d 855 (5th Cir.…

Taylor v. Sterrett

This emphasis perhaps reflects the recurrent judicial attitude that the right of access to the courts is…