AP: (Supreme) Court Eases Restrictions on Inmate Suits

[Eugene]

Court Eases Restrictions on Inmate Suits
By Associated Press

January 22, 2007, 11:10 AM EST

WASHINGTON -- A unanimous Supreme Court on Monday sided with three Michigan
inmates by making it easier for them to pursue lawsuits complaining about their
treatment behind bars.

The court reversed lower court rulings that had thrown out the prisoners' suits on
grounds that all three had failed to exhaust the administrative grievance procedure.

Chief Justice John Roberts said the procedural rules that the 6th U.S. Circuit Court
of Appeals used in the cases are not required under the Prison Litigation Reform Act.
The law requires prisoners to go through a lengthy administrative grievance process
before they may sue in court.

Roberts said the Michigan inmates are not required to demonstrate that they have
exhausted the administrative complaint procedure. The chief justice said nothing
in Michigan prison policy requires that an individual be named in an administrative
grievance.

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Full article: http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-scotus...