Northern v. Nelson, C-69 279.
| Citation | 315 F. Supp. 687 |
| Decision Date | 08 July 1970 |
| Docket Number | No. C-69 279.,C-69 279. |
| Parties | Harry X. NORTHERN, Plaintiff, v. Louis S. NELSON, Warden, San Quentin State Prison, Defendant. |
| Court | United States District Courts. 9th Circuit. United States District Courts. 9th Circuit. Northern District of California |
Stanley Joseph Zaks, San Francisco, Cal., for plaintiff.
Thomas C. Lynch, Atty. Gen., Robert Granucci, Deputy Atty. Gen., Albert W. Harris, Jr., Asst. Atty. Gen., San Francisco, Cal., for defendant.
FINAL ORDER
This matter came before the Court based on the civil rights complaint of plaintiff, Harry X. Northern, against defendant, Louis S. Nelson, Warden, San Quentin State Prison.
Upon the record herein it appears:
1. That plaintiff had not been allowed to receive on a regular basis the newspaper Muhammad Speaks.
2. That eleven of the thirteen prison facilities hereinafter listed do not have copies of the book entitled The Holy Quran by Usef Ali.
3. That there are currently no provisions for payment by state authorities of a Muslim minister at a rate comparable to that which is paid to chaplains of the Catholic, Jewish and Protestant faiths.
4. That reasonable access to copies of Muhammad Speaks and The Holy Quran are at minimum necessary for effective exercise of plaintiff's right to practice the Muslim religion.
5. That in the past availability of the newspaper Muhammad Speaks has not resulted in disruption of prison discipline.
6. That plaintiff received disciplinary infractions for the possession of Muhammad Speaks while in San Quentin.
7. That disciplinary infractions resulting from possession of Muhammad Speaks have been deleted from plaintiff's prison records, and his complaint with regard to such infractions is therefore moot.
8. In light of the fact that a daily menu is posted and that the diet presently in use at state prison facilities is adequate to meet the dietary needs of all inmates at such facilities and as constituted does not unreasonably impinge upon the free exercise of the religious beliefs and practices of such inmates who adhere to the Muslim religion, the complaint as it relates to the prison diet is therefore moot.
Accordingly, pursuant to the Court's opinion of June 22, 1970, it is ordered:
1. That plaintiff be allowed, to receive at his expense on a regular basis, the newspaper Muhammad Speaks unless it can be clearly demonstrated that a specific issue will substantially disrupt prison discipline.
2. That, if not heretofore provided, the thirteen prison facilities hereinafter named shall make available to inmates requesting it and in accordance with Department of Corrections...
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