Ramos V. Honorable Richard D. Lamm

The defendants-appellants, hereafter the State or the State of Colorado, appeal from an order of the United States District Court directing inter alia that the State of Colorado close the maximum security unit of the Colorado State Penitentiary at Canon City, Colorado, hereinafter referred to as "Old Max." The order was premised mainly on findings of numerous violations of the constitutional rights of the plaintiff class (inmates of the penitentiary) under the Eighth Amendment protecting against cruel and unusual punishment, with some additional constitutional infringements also being found. Ramos v. Lamm, 485 F. Supp. 122 (D.Colo.). Implementation of the order to close Old Max was deferred on the condition that the State would present proper plans for eradication of the constitutional violations found by the district court.*fn1 Id. at 169-70.