United States Third Circuit

In a former inmate's 42 U.S.C. section 1983 suit against various prison officials, jury verdict in favor of the defendants is affirmed where: 1) requiring a party in a civil trial to appear in shackles may well deprive him of due process unless the restraints are necessary; and 2) even if the district court erred in ordering that defendant be shackled during trial, that error was harmless.

Appellate Information

• Argued 11/10/2009
• Decided 06/22/2010
• Published 06/22/2010

Judges

• Before AMBRO, GARTH, and ROTH, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Third Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Thomas L. Kirsch II, Esquire (Argued), Kristin Palmer, Esquire, Brandon Swider, Esquire, Chicago, IL, for Appellant.


• For Appellees:
  
• Kemal A. Mericli (Argued), Senior Deputy Attorney General, Appellate Litigation Section, Office of Attorney General of Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, PA, for Appellees.