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SHAW v. MURPHY

United States Supreme Court No. 99-1613

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QUESTION PRESENTED: (1) Does a prisoner have a right to act as a law clerk, separate from the prisoner's right of access to the courts?

(2) May the prison authorities prevent a prisoner from sending a letter containing false allegations against a guard to another prisoner who has been segregated from the general prison population and is charged with assaulting the guard who is the subject of that letter?

ORAL ARGUMENT DATE: January 16, 2001

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INTRODUCTION

Interest of amicus curiae
Summary of facts and case
Summary of argument

Part I

I. The right of access to the courts is not implicated in this case

Part II

II. Prisoners do not have a First Amendment right to provide legal assistance to other inmates

Part III

III. The administration did not violate the plaintiff's free speech righs

Conclusion