Reynolds v. Barrett Gould v. Chamberlin

WESLEY, Circuit Judge:

Plaintiffs primary argument on appeal presents a question of first impression in our circuit: whether recourse to the pattern-or-practice evidentiary framework is appropriate in a suit against individual state officials brought pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for intentional discrimination.

I. BACKGROUND

This case has as a backdrop prior litigation involving claims of racial discrimination at Elmira Correctional Facility (“Elmira”), a state maximum-security prison in Elmira, New York. See Santiago v. Miles, 774 F.Supp. 775, 782-88 (W.D.N.Y.1991). In 1986, black and Hispanic…