SHAW etal. v. MURPHY (04/18/01 - No. 99-1613)

certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the ninth circuit

SHAW etal. v. MURPHY (04/18/01 - No. 99-1613)

While respondent Murphy was incarcerated in state prison, he learned that a fellow inmate had been charged with assaulting a correctional officer. Murphy decided to assist the inmate with his defense and sent him a letter, which was intercepted in accordance with prison policy. Based on the letters content, the prison sanctioned Murphy for violating prison rules prohibiting insolence and interfering with due process hearings. Murphy then sought declaratory and injunctive relief under 42 U. S. C. 1983, alleging that the disciplinary action violated, inter alia, his First Amendment rights, including the right to provide legal assistance to other inmates.

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