Al-Amin v. Howard
Case Description:
Jamil Al-Amin was convicted of homicide in 2002 in state court in Georgia. He was subsequently transferred to the federal prison system. The state conviction was based on an undercover informant and subject to significant criticism. Appeal of the conviction, however, was out of scope for MLFA.
While in prison, Imam Al-Amin began to suffer from cataracts. The condition worsened to the point that he was legally blind. Despite the clear obligation to provide him medical treatment, the warden at the facility in Arizona, citing security concerns, refused to schedule a procedure for Imam Al-Amin because it had to be conducted at a facility outside of the prison. Partnering with Perkins Coie LLP., MLFA filed a habeas action on Al-Amin’s behalf, seeking to compel his medical treatment. In the habeas action, MLFA argued that the 8th Amendment Case Law clearly required Al-Amin be afforded the medical treatment and that given Al-Amin’s advanced age and exemplary prison record, the security concerns were pretextual.
OUTCOME
Rather than defend the petition, the prison relented, and Al-Amin received the surgery restoring his vision.
