Cruz v. Hauck, 404 U.S. 59 (1971)

Per curiam opinion.

PER CURIAM.

The motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis and the petition for a writ of certiorari are granted. The judgment is vacated and the case is remanded to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit for further consideration in light of Younger v. Gilmore, ante, p. 15.

1. In their complaint, petitioners relied upon 28 U.S.C. § 1343(3); 28 U.S.C. § 2201; and 42 U.S.C. § 1983.

2. Cruz v. Hauck, Civil Action SA70CA182 (WD Tex., filed Oct. 30, 1970) (unreported).

3. United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit Rule 8(d).

4. Cruz v. Hauck, Civil Action SA70CA182 (WD Tex., filed Dec. 3, 1970) (unreported).

5. Cruz v. Hauck, Civil Action SA70CA182 (WD Tex., filed Oct. 28, 1970) (unreported).

6. Cruz v. Hauck, Misc. No.1964 (CA5, filed Feb. 1, 1971).

7. Cruz v. Hauck, Misc. No.1964 (CA5, filed Mar. 12, 1971).

8. The issue at stake in the appeal was clearly not frivolous, as indicated by our decision in Younger v. Gilmore, ante, p. 15, that there are limits on the extent to which prison officials may restrict inmates’ access to law books. On at least 21 occasions, this Court has reversed lower courts’ holdings that only frivolous claims were sought to be presented. Rubio v. United States, 387 U.S. 90 (1967); Robinson v. United States, 372 U.S. 527 (1963); Jones v. United States, 371 U.S. 25 (1962); Gilliam v. United States, 370 U.S. 727 (1962); Garrett v. United States, 369 U.S. 662 (1962); Kemp v. United States, 369 U.S. 661 (1962); Coppedge v. United States, 369 U.S. 438 (1962); see 14 cases prior to Coppedge cited id. at 440-441, n. 1.

9. See also Roberts v. LaVallee, 389 U.S. 40 (1967); Long v. District Court of Iowa, 385 U.S. 192 (1966); Draper v. Washington, 372 U.S. 487 (1963); Douglas v. California, 372 U.S. 353 (1963).

10. Although no explicit equal protection clause is directed by the Constitution against the Federal Government, the concept of equal protection of the laws is incorporated into the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment. Bolling v. Sharpe, 347 U.S. 497 (1954).

11. For a discussion of application of our in forma pauperis decisions to civil appeals in the federal courts, see Blackmun, Allowance of In Forma Pauperis Appeals in § 2255 and Habeas Corpus Cases, 43 F.R.D. 343 (1967).

12. Together with seven other cases, 402 U.S. 94 n. *.

13. See cases cited at n. 8.

14. Van Alstyne, The Demise of the Right-Privilege Distinction in Constitutional Law, 81 Harv.L.Rev. 1439 (1968).