U.S. appeals court: PLRA--Prison Litigation Reform Act.

• Position: Access to Courts

McEachin v. McGuinnis, 357 F.3d 197 (2nd Cir. 2004). A prisoner, proceeding in forma pauperis, brought a civil rights complaint against prison officials. The district court dismissed the action under the screening provisions of the Prison Litigation Reform Act (PLRA). The prisoner appealed, and the appeals court affirmed in part, reversed in part and remanded. The court held that the screening provisions of PLRA did not warrant sua sponte dismissal of free exercise claims involving the prisoner's placement on a restricted diet as a disciplinary...