Ruiz v. Estelle

GARWOOD, Circuit Judge:

This ease involves the attempt by appellants, two Texas state legislators, to intervene in the long pending suit concerning Texas prison conditions, which began more than twenty-five years ago. The district court denied appellants’ motion to intervene under Fed.R.Civ.P., Rules 24(a)(1), 24(a)(2), and 24(b)(2). 1 Because we conclude that 18 U.S.C. § 3626(a)(3)(F) grants the appellants “an unconditional right to intervene” in this case within the meaning of Rule 24(a)(1), we reverse.

In 1972, class-action plaintiffs David Ruiz, et. al. (plaintiffs), initiated litigation…