No. 25-5074

Michael Horton v. Captain Gilchrist, et al.

Lower Court: Eleventh Circuit
Docketed: 2025-07-10
Status: Denied
Type: IFP
Response RequestedResponse WaivedRelisted (2)IFP
Tags: discovery-rights federal-rules prisoner-litigation pro-se-litigant section-1983 summary-judgment
Key Terms:
DueProcess
Latest Conference: 2025-10-10 (distributed 2 times)
Question Presented (AI Summary)

May federal courts implement an uncodified special report procedure that divests pro se prisoner litigants of discovery rights afforded them under the Federal Rules and improperly supplants Rule 56 summary judgment procedures in order to manage litigation brought by inmates alleging violations under §1983?

Question Presented (from Petition)

This Court’s precedent is clear that federal courts “should generally not depart from the usual practice under the Federal Rules on the basis of perceived policy concerns.” Jones v. Bock , 549 U.S. 199, 212 (2007). May federal courts implement an uncodified special report procedure that divests pro se prisoner litigants of discovery rights afforded them under the Federal Rules and improperly supplants Rule 56 summary judgment procedures in order to manage litigation brought by inmates alleging violations under §1983?

Docket Entries

2025-10-14
Petition DENIED.
2025-09-18
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 10/10/2025.
2025-08-29
Brief of Captain Gilchrist, et al. in opposition submitted.
2025-08-29
Brief of respondents Captain Gilchrist, et al. in opposition filed.
2025-07-30
Response Requested. (Due August 29, 2025)
2025-07-17
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 9/29/2025.
2025-07-10
Waiver of Captain Gilchrist, et al. of right to respond submitted.
2025-07-10
Waiver of right of respondent Captain Gilchrist, et al. to respond filed.
2025-07-07

Attorneys

Captain Gilchrist, et al.
Alexander Barrett BowdreOffice of Alabama Attorney General, Respondent
Alexander Barrett BowdreOffice of Alabama Attorney General, Respondent
Edmund Gerard LaCour Jr.Office of the Attorney General, Respondent
Michael Horton
Christopher Steven BurkhalterBradley Arant Boult Cummings, Petitioner
Christopher Steven BurkhalterBradley Arant Boult Cummings, Petitioner