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Gardner v. Thompkins

United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
Jul 28, 1972
464 F.2d 1031 (5th Cir. 1972)

Opinion

No. 72-2462.

July 28, 1972.

Don Gardner, pro se.

Robert L. Shevin, Atty. Gen., Tampa, Fla., for defendants-appellees.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida.

Before JOHN R. BROWN, Chief Judge, GOLDBERG and MORGAN, Circuit Judges.


Nine inmates of the maximum security section of the Florida State Prison at Raiford sought to file a civil rights complaint seeking injunctive relief for asserted deprivations of Federal constitutional rights resulting from their confinement in administrative segregation apart from the general prison population. They alleged (i) denial of the right to have legal documents notarized in their presence and to retain such notarized documents in their possession, (ii) denial of outdoor yard, movie and canteen privileges, (iii) denial of clean razors and shaving mirrors, and (iv) denial of the right to assemble together for religious services. The District Court, finding the allegations frivolous, denied permission to file the complaint in forma pauperis. We affirm.

It is appropriate to dispose of this case summarily. See Groendyke Transport, Inc. v. Davis, 5 Cir., 1969, 406 F.2d 1158.

When a State prisoner asserts a claim which, if proven, could potentially evolve into a substantial Federal question of constitutional proportions, he is ordinarily entitled to an opportunity to prove his allegations. Williams v. Wainwright, 5 Cir., 1972, 461 F.2d 1080 and companion cases. Here, however, even conceding the truth of each of the allegations, we cannot conclude that any of them involve actual or potential constitutional significance. If corrections are required, they must be implemented by the appropriate prison officials. Granville v. Hunt, 5 Cir., 1969, 411 F.2d 9, 12.

Affirmed.


Summaries of

Gardner v. Thompkins

United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
Jul 28, 1972
464 F.2d 1031 (5th Cir. 1972)
Case details for

Gardner v. Thompkins

Case Details

Full title:DONALD GARDNER AND JOHN DAVID RANKIN ET AL., PLAINTIFFS-APPELLANTS, v. J…

Court:United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit

Date published: Jul 28, 1972

Citations

464 F.2d 1031 (5th Cir. 1972)

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