hope pelzer et argued april decided june petitioner hope alabama prison inmate twice handcuffed hitching post disruptive conduct period may offered drinking water bathroom break every minutes responses recorded activity log handcuffed shoulder height tried moving arms improve circulation handcuffs cut wrists causing pain discomfort altercation guard chain gang worksite june hope subdued handcuffed placed leg irons transported back prison ordered take shirt thus exposing sun spent seven hours hitching post given one two water breaks bathroom breaks guard taunted thirst hope filed suit three guards without deciding whether placing hope hitching post punishment violated eighth amendment magistrate judge found guards entitled qualified immunity district entered summary judgment respondents eleventh circuit affirmed latter answered constitutional question finding hitching post use punitive purposes violated eighth amendment finding guards nevertheless entitled qualified immunity concluded hope show required circuit precedent federal law guards conduct evaluated established cases materially similar facts case held defense qualified immunity precluded summary judgment phase pp hope allegations true establish eighth amendment violation among unnecessary wanton inflictions pain constituting cruel unusual punishment forbidden amendment totally without penological justification rhodes chapman determination made context prison conditions ascertaining whether official acted deliberate indifference inmates health safety hudson mcmillian state mind inferred fact risk harm obvious farmer brennan eighth amendment violation obvious facts alleged safety concerns long since abated time hope handcuffed hitching post already subdued handcuffed placed leg irons transported back prison separated work squad given opportunity return despite clear lack emergency respondents knowingly subjected substantial risk physical harm unnecessary pain unnecessary exposure sun prolonged thirst taunting deprivation bathroom breaks created risk particular discomfort humiliation pp respondents may nevertheless shielded liability constitutionally impermissible conduct actions violate clearly established statutory constitutional rights reasonable person known harlow fitzgerald assessment eleventh circuit erred requiring facts previous cases hope case materially similar qualified immunity operates ensure subjected suit officers notice conduct unlawful officers sued civil action fair notice right defendants charged makes crime state official act willfully color state deprive person constitutional rights opinion lanier case makes clear officials notice conduct violates established law even novel factual situations indeed expressly rejected requirement previous cases fundamentally similar accordingly salient question eleventh circuit asked whether state law gave respondents fair warning hope alleged treatment unconstitutional pp reasonable officer known using hitching post hope alleged unlawful obvious cruelty inherent practice provided respondents notice conduct unconstitutional addition binding circuit precedent given notice gates collier found several forms corporal punishment impermissible including handcuffing inmates fences cells long periods ort white warned physical abuse directed prisoner terminate resistance authority constitute actionable eighth amendment violation relevant question whether ort provided fair notice subsequent alabama department corrections adoc regulation specifying procedures using hitching post included allowing inmate rejoin squad tells officer ready work regularly observed provision made hope case less like kind punishment ort described impermissible conduct showing provision sham respondents ignore impunity provides equally strong support conclusion fully aware wrongful conduct conclusion also buttressed fact justice department specifically advised adoc constitutional infirmity practices incidents case took place pp reversed stevens delivered opinion kennedy souter ginsburg breyer joined thomas filed dissenting opinion rehnquist scalia joined larry hope petitioner mark pelzer et al writ certiorari appeals eleventh circuit june justice stevens delivered opinion appeals eleventh circuit concluded petitioner larry hope former prison inmate limestone prison alabama subjected cruel unusual punishment prison guards twice handcuffed hitching post sanction disruptive conduct conclusion supported earlier cases materially similar facts held respondents entitled qualified immunity therefore affirmed summary judgment favor granted certiorari determine whether appeals qualified immunity holding comports decision lanier alabama state followed practice chaining inmates one another work squads also state handcuffed prisoners hitching posts either refused work otherwise disrupted work hope handcuffed hitching post two occasions may hope working chain gang near interstate highway got argument another inmate men taken back limestone prison handcuffed hitching post hope released two hours later guard captain determined altercation caused inmate two hours post hope offered drinking water bathroom break every minutes responses offers recorded activity log slightly taller hitching post arms shoulder height grew tired handcuffed high whenever tried moving arms improve circulation handcuffs cut wrists causing pain discomfort june hope punished severely took nap morning bus ride chain gang worksite arrived less prompt responding order get bus exchange vulgar remarks led wrestling match guard four guards intervened subdued hope handcuffed placed leg irons transported back prison put hitching post guards made take shirt remained shirtless day sun burned remained attached post approximately seven hours period given water twice given bathroom one point guard taunted hope thirst according hope affidavit guard first gave water dogs brought water cooler closer removed lid kicked cooler spilling water onto ground app hope filed suit rev stat district northern district alabama three guards involved may incident one also handcuffed hitching post june case referred magistrate judge treated responsive affidavits filed defendants motion summary judgment without deciding whether act placing restraining bar period hours form punishment violated eighth amendment magistrate concluded guards entitled qualified supplemental app pet cert district agreed entered judgment respondents appeals eleventh circuit affirmed reaching qualified immunity issue however answered constitutional question district bypassed found use hitching post punitive purposes violated eighth amendment nevertheless applying circuit precedent concerning qualified immunity stated federal law government official conduct evaluated must preexisting obvious mandatory established abstractions cases materially facts case front us concluded facts two precedents hope primarily relied ort white gates collier hough analogous materially similar hope situation granted certiorari review eleventh circuit qualified immunity holding ii threshold inquiry must undertake qualified immunity analysis whether plaintiff allegations true establish constitutional violation saucier katz appeals held policy practice cuffing inmate hitching post similar stationary object period time surpasses necessary quell threat restore order violation eighth amendment rejected respondents submission hope ended shackling offering return work finding instead purpose practice circumstances confinement created substantial risk harm officers aware moreover relied circuit precedent condemning similar results department justice doj report found alabama systematic use hitching post improper corporal agree appeals attachment hope hitching post circumstances alleged case violated eighth unnecessary wanton infliction pain constitutes cruel unusual punishment forbidden eighth amendment whitley albers internal quotation marks omitted said mong unnecessary wanton inflictions pain totally without penological justification rhodes chapman making determination context prison conditions must ascertain whether officials involved acted deliberate indifference inmates health safety hudson mcmillian may infer existence subjective state mind fact risk harm obvious farmer brennan facts alleged hope eighth amendment violation obvious safety concerns long since abated time petitioner handcuffed hitching post hope already subdued handcuffed placed leg irons transported back prison separated work squad given opportunity return work despite clear lack emergency situation respondents knowingly subjected substantial risk physical harm unnecessary pain caused handcuffs restricted position confinement period unnecessary exposure heat sun prolonged thirst taunting deprivation bathroom breaks created risk particular discomfort use hitching post circumstances violated basic concept underlying eighth amendment nothing less dignity man trop dulles punitive treatment amounts gratuitous infliction wanton unnecessary pain precedent clearly prohibits iii despite participation constitutionally impermissible conduct respondents may nevertheless shielded liability civil damages actions violate clearly established statutory constitutional rights reasonable person known harlow fitzgerald assessing whether eighth amendment violation met harlow test appeals required facts previous cases materially similar hope situation rigid gloss qualified immunity standard though supported circuit consistent cases explained qualified immunity operates ensure subjected suit officers notice conduct unlawful saucier katz say light law unlawfulness must apparent anderson creighton officers sued civil action damages right fair notice defendants charged criminal offense defined section makes crime state official act willfully color law deprive person rights protected constitution lanier held defendant entitled fair warning conduct deprived victim constitutional right standard determining adequacy warning standard determining whether constitutional right clearly established civil litigation lanier appeals held indictment charge offense constitutional right allegedly violated identified earlier case involving factual situation fundamentally one issue citing lanier appeals assumed defendant criminal case entitled degree notice substantially higher clearly established standard used judge qualified civil cases reversed explaining fair warning requirement identical qualified immunity standard pointed upheld convictions despite notable factual distinctions precedents relied cases long prior decisions gave reasonable warning conduct issue violated constitutional rights explained say course single warning standard points single level specificity sufficient every instance circumstances earlier case expressly leaves open whether general rule applies particular type conduct issue high degree prior factual particularity may necessary general statements law inherently incapable giving fair clear warning instances general constitutional rule already identified decisional law may apply obvious clarity specific conduct question even though action question previously held unlawful anderson supra citation omitted opinion lanier thus makes clear officials still notice conduct violates established law even novel factual circumstances indeed lanier expressly rejected requirement previous cases fundamentally similar although earlier cases involving fundamentally similar facts provide especially strong support conclusion law clearly established necessary finding true cases materially similar facts accordingly pursuant lanier salient question appeals asked whether state law gave respondents fair warning alleged treatment hope unconstitutional question turn iv use hitching post alleged hope unnecessar ily wanton ly inflicted pain whitley internal quotation marks omitted thus clear violation eighth amendment see part ii supra arguably violation obvious eighth amendment cases gave respondents fair warning conduct violated constitution regardless light binding eleventh circuit precedent alabama department corrections adoc regulation doj report informing adoc constitutional infirmity use hitching post readily conclude respondents conduct violated clearly established statutory constitutional rights reasonable person known harlow cases decided appeals fifth circuit binding precedent eleventh circuit today see bonner pritchard one cases decided appeals reviewed district decision finding number constitutional violations administration mississippi prisons gates collier opinion squarely held several forms corporal punishment run afoul eighth amendment offend contemporary concepts decency human dignity precepts civilization profess possess among forms punishment handcuffing inmates fence cells long periods time forcing inmates stand sit lie crates stumps otherwise maintain awkward positions prolonged periods ibid fact gates found several forms punishment impermissible respondents suggest lessen force holding respect handcuffing inmates cells fences long periods time purpose providing fair notice reasonable officers administering punishment past misconduct reason draw constitutional distinction practice handcuffing inmate fence prolonged periods handcuffing hitching post seven hours appeals conclusion contrary exposes danger rigid overreliance factual similarity government submits brief amicus curiae reasonable officer concluded constitutional holding gates turned fact inmates handcuffed fences bars cells rather specially designed metal bar designated shackling anything use designated hitching post highlights constitutional problem brief amicus curiae light gates unlawfulness alleged conduct apparent respondents reasoning though holding case decided eleventh circuit sent message reasonable officers circuit ort white appeals held officer temporary denials drinking water inmate repeatedly refused share work assigned farm squad viewed punishment strict sense instead necessary coercive measures undertaken obtain compliance reasonable prison rule requirement inmates perform assigned farm squad duties officer clear motive encourage ort comply rules work required receive water like everyone else ibid cautioned however constitutional violation might present later back prison officials decided deny ort water punishment refusal work violation occurred method coercion reached point severity recalcitrant prisoner health risk ibid although facts case identical ort premise physical abuse directed prisoner terminate resistance authority constitute actionable eighth amendment violation premise clear applicability case hope restrained worksite willing return work rather removed back prison placed conditions threatened health ort therefore gave fair warning respondents conduct crossed line constitutionally permissible relevant question whether ort provided fair warning respondents conduct violated constitution regulation promulgated adoc regulation authorizes use hitching post inmate refuses work otherwise disruptive work squad provides activity log completed inmate detailing responses offers water bathroom breaks every minutes log completed maintained petitioner shackling may record contains log shackling june record indicates periodic offers contemplated regulation made app regulation also inmate allowed join assigned squad whenever tells officer ready go work findings austin hopper supp md well record case indicate important provision regulation frequently ignored corrections officers regularly observed requirement effectively give inmate keys handcuffs attached hitching post made case analogous practice upheld ort rather kind punishment ort described impermissible course conduct tends prove requirement merely sham respondents ignore impunity provides equally strong support conclusion fully aware wrongful character conduct respondents violated clearly established law conclusion reasonable person known harlow violation buttressed fact doj specifically advised adoc unconstitutionality practices incidents case took place doj conducted study alabama use hitching post among findings doj report noted adoc officers consistently failed comply policy immediately releasing inmate hitching post agrees return work doj concluded systematic use restraining bar alabama constituted improper corporal punishment ibid accordingly doj advised adoc cease use hitching post order meet constitutional standards adoc replied thought post permissibly used preserve prison security discipline ibid response doj informed adoc lthough emergency situation may warrant drastic action corrections staff experts found rail used systematically improper punishment relatively trivial offenses therefore concluded use rail without penological justification ibid although nothing record indicating doj views communicated respondents exchange lends support view reasonable officials adoc realized use hitching post circumstances alleged hope violated eighth amendment prohibition cruel unusual punishment obvious cruelty inherent practice provided respondents notice alleged conduct violated hope constitutional protection cruel unusual punishment hope treated way antithetical human dignity hitched post extended period time position painful circumstances degrading dangerous wanton treatment done necessity punishment prior conduct even might question regarding constitutionality practice eleventh circuit precedent gates ort well doj report condemning practice put reasonable officer notice use hitching post circumstances alleged hope unlawful fair clear warning lanier cases provided sufficient preclude defense qualified immunity summary judgment stage response justice thomas thoughtful dissent make following three observations first granting certiorari review summary judgment entered favor officers take question sufficiency pleadings affidavits raise genuine possibility three named officers responsible punitive acts shackling alleged questions raised petitioner plaintiff summary judgment entered go application standard immunity available official acts clear reasonable officer conduct unlawful situation confronted saucier katz officers brief opposition certiorari likewise addressed legal standard clearly established resulting focus case eleventh circuit position violation clearly established unless subject prior case liability facts materially similar charged take pass upon questions whether extent three named officers may held responsible acts charged proved nothing decision forecloses defense qualified immunity ground relied upon appeals second may address immunity question assumption act field discipline charged occasion handcuffing hope hitching post extended period apparently inflict gratuitous pain discomfort justification threatened harm continuing refusal work neither occasion hope refus work encourag inmates refuse work appeals clearly held act cuffing petitioner hitching post suffice unconstitutional act find cuffing inmate hitching post period time extending past required address immediate danger threat violation eighth amendment ibid although continued violation exacerbated lack proper clothing water bathroom breaks embellishment basis decision decision adequately rests assumption sufficed appeals third applying objective immunity test reasonable officer understand significance federal judicial precedent function part judiciary structure unreported district opinions cited officers distinguishable regardless match circuit gates collier held handcuffing inmates fence cells long periods time unconstitutional ort white suggested unconstitutional inflict gratuitous pain inmate refusing water punishment unnecessary enforce discipline vitality gates ort seriously questioned light decisions holding gratuitous infliction punishment unconstitutional even prison context see supra citing whitley albers rhodes chapman judgment appeals reversed ordered larry hope petitioner mark pelzer et al writ certiorari appeals eleventh circuit june justice thomas chief justice justice scalia join dissenting today subjects three prison guards suit based facts alleged law clearly established subjective views appropriate methods prison discipline qualified immunity jurisprudence turned head petitioner larry hope file action state alabama sue alabama prison guards responsible looking two instances handcuffed restraining chose instead maintain lawsuit three prison guards officer gene mcclaran sergeant mark pelzer lieutenant jim gates see therefore strange course deciding none three respondents entitled qualified immunity even bother mention nature petitioner specific allegations mcclaran pelzer gates omission glaring telling one examines alleged conduct prison guards parties action opposed alleged conduct guards parties action petitioner case becomes far less compelling imprecise account facts requires specific nature petitioner allegations three respondents recounted petitioner claims may officer mcclaran ordered petitioner affixed restraining bar sergeant pelzer date affixed restraining bar lieutenant gates may june affixed petitioner sum substance petitioner allegations respect mcclaran pelzer petitioner never alleged participated june incident appalls respect lieutenant gates petitioner never alleged gates either participated responsible june events recounted attaching petitioner bar petitioner never contended gates looked otherwise supervised bar see second affidavit larry hope nd record doc petitioner ever claimed gates responsible keeping bar seven hours removing denying water taunting thirst giving water dogs petitioner plain view see ibid relevance facts repeatedly referenced course legal analysis see ante therefore escapes events referenced opinion even arguably gleaned record instance claims june petitioner given bathroom breaks ante time bar petitioner never alleged gates prison guard refused bathroom breaks date see second affidavit larry hope record doc matter fact district expressly found petitioner denied restroom breaks supplemental app pet cert addition photographs taken petitioner attached restraining bar june show wearing revealing minimum petitioner shirtless day see second affidavit larry hope exhs record doc verifying photographs taken hitching post june one understands petitioner specific allegations respondents eighth amendment violation case far obvious ante obvious however explanation respondents violated eighth amendment woefully incomplete merely recounts petitioner allegations regarding events june concludes use hitching post circumstances violated basic concept underlying eighth amendment nothing less dignity man ante quoting trop dulles however fails explain respondents mcclaran pelzer violated eighth amendment given involvement whatsoever affixing petitioner restraining bar june reasoning applied respondent gates similarly inadequate since petitioner never alleged gates bore responsibility conduct june supposedly renders eighth amendment violation obvious ii petitioner allegations regarding respondents conduct separated grievances mistreatment invented case presents one simple question clearly established mere act cuffing petitioner restraining bar case officer mcclaran ordering petitioner attachment restraining bar violated eighth amendment answer question also simple obviously correctly respondents entitled qualified immunity unless conduct violated clearly established statutory constitutional rights reasonable person known ante quoting harlow fitzgerald fails either discuss apply following important principles qualified immunity protects plainly incompetent knowingly violate law malley briggs clear reasonable officer conduct unlawful situation confronted qualified immunity apply saucier katz hand officers reasonable competence disagree th issue immunity recognized malley supra evaluating whether clearly established respondents conduct violated eighth amendment appeals properly noted important analyze facts prior cases relied upon petitioner courts found eighth amendment violations determine materially similar facts case front us internal quotation marks omitted right suffer cruel unusual punishments amdt extremely abstract general right vast majority cases text eighth amendment give government official sufficient notice clearly established eighth amendment law applicable particular rather one must look case law see whether right official alleged violated clearly established particularized hence relevant sense contours right must sufficiently clear reasonable official understand violates right anderson creighton conducting inquiry crucial look precedent applying relevant legal rule similar factual circumstances cases give government officials best indication conduct unlawful given situation instance various courts agreed certain conduct constitutes eighth amendment violation facts distinguishable fair way facts presented case hand saucier supra plaintiff compelling argument defendant entitled qualified immunity say course conduct clearly established unlawful already passed legality behavior materially similar circumstances certain actions obviously run afoul law assertion qualified immunity may overcome even though decisions yet address materially similar conduct puts officials still notice conduct violates established law even novel factual circumstances ante although argues appeals improperly imposed rigid gloss qualified immunity standard ante requiring facts previous case materially similar plaintiff circumstances qualified immunity overcome suggestion plainly wrong rather appeals repeatedly made clear imposes requirement plaintiffs seeking defeat assertion qualified immunity see priester riviera beach stating qualified immunity apply official conduct far beyond hazy border excessive acceptable force official know violating constitution even without caselaw point internal quotation marks omitted smith mattox noting plaintiff overcome assertion qualified immunity demonstrating official conduct lies obviously core constitution prohibits unlawfulness conduct readily apparent official notwithstanding lack caselaw lassiter alabama ccasionally words federal statute federal constitutional provision specific enough establish law applicable particular circumstances clearly overcome qualified immunity even absence caselaw similarly unfair read appeals decision adopting rigid gloss nowhere appeals state petitioner order overcome respondents assertion qualified immunity required produce precedent addressing materially similar facts rather appeals merely sensibly evaluated cases relied upon petitioner determine whether involved facts materially similar present case see important analyze facts cases determine materially similar facts case front us sure appeals also ask whether respondents conduct obviously violated eighth amendment respondents assertion qualified immunity overcome absence case law involving materially similar facts majority must believe appeals therefore implicitly abandoned prior qualified immunity jurisprudence hand believe far likely appeals omitted discussion opinion much simpler reason given petitioners allegations thought argument weak alleged actions respondents far removed hazy border excessive acceptable force priester supra quoting smith supra worth mentioning turning merits respondents assertion entitled qualified immunity relevant question whether clear mcclaran pelzer gates attaching petitioner restraining bar violated eighth amendment notes time alabama state used particular disciplinary method prisoners refused work disrupted work squads see ante previous litigation alabama use restraining bar however nothing warn reasonable alabama prison guards attaching prisoner restraining bar unlawful let alone illegality conduct clearly established fact outcome cases effectively forecloses petitioner claim clear respondents handcuffing petitioner restraining bar violated eighth amendment example year conduct issue case took place district northern district alabama rejected eighth amendment claim alabama prisoner attached restraining bar five hours refused work scuffled guards see lane findley district reasoned attaching prisoner restraining bar measured response potentially volatile situation clear warning inmates refusal work result immediate discipline subjecting offending inmate similar conditions experienced work detail inmates rather return inside institution district therefore concluded substantial penological justification attaching plaintiff restraining bar ibid petitioner attempt distinguish case lane grounds prisoner lane offered regular water bathroom breaks restraining bar see ante reply brief petitioner argument fails two reasons respondents mcclaran pelzer involved may incident undisputed petitioner offered water bathroom break every minutes hours bar day petitioner previously mentioned never alleged respondent gates responsible denying water bathroom breaks june year decided lane district northern district alabama dismissed another complaint filed alabama prisoner handcuffed restraining bar case prisoner refusing leave prison grounds work squad handcuffed restraining bar eight hours temperatures allegedly reached degrees prisoner attached bar allegedly denied food water opportunities use bathroom facilities see whitson gillikin app result handcuffed bar prisoner suffered lacerations pain swelling arms district without deciding whether defendants conduct violated eighth amendment held clearly established law identifying behavior unconstitutional federal district courts five alabama cases decided similarly rejected claims handcuffing prisoner restraining bar stationary object violated eighth amendment see ashby dees nd fence vinson thompson md restraining bar hollis folsom md fence williamson anderson md fence dale murphy sd light pole contrast petitioner unable point alabama decision issued respondents affixed restraining bar holding prison guard engaging conduct violated eighth amendment face decisions absence contrary authority find impossible conclude respondents either plainly incompetent knowingly violat ing law affixed petitioner restraining bar malley reasonably competent prison guard attempting obey law entitled look courts recently evaluated colleagues prior conduct judicial decisions often place guard look guidance especially situation state stands alone adopting particular policy concluding respondents entitled qualified immunity understandably unwilling hold eighth amendment jurisprudence clearly established attaching petitioner restraining bar violated eighth ante far obvious ante respondents attaching petitioner restraining bar acted deliberate indifference health safety hudson mcmillian petitioner allegations come close suggesting respondents knew mere act attaching petitioner restraining bar imposed substantial risk serious harm upon see farmer brennan instance attaching petitioner restraining bar amounted gratuitous infliction wanton unnecessary pain ante curious petitioner handcuffed bar may chose decline bathroom breaks offered respondents also affixed petitioner restraining bar legitimate penological purpose encouraging compliance prison rules work duty moreover application general eighth amendment jurisprudence use restraining bar obvious claims ante one wonders federal district courts alabama repeatedly arrived opposite conclusion respondents turn realize courts failed grasp obvious unable base holding respondents conduct violated clearly established rights reasonable person known ante quoting harlow precedents instead relies upon binding eleventh circuit precedent alabama department corrections adoc regulation department justice report informing adoc constitutional infirmity use hitching post ante address sources reverse order department justice report referenced nothing demonstrate clear respondents attaching petitioner restraining bar violated eighth amendment rights begin concedes indication justice department recommendation adoc stop using restraining bar ever communicated respondents prison guards small town capshaw alabama see ante event extraordinarily prison guard read justice department report federal district decisions addressing use restraining bar concluded dispute whether handcuffing prisoner restraining bar constituted eighth amendment violation practice clearly unconstitutional alabama department corrections regulation relied upon fails provide support holding today regulation weighs respondents favor expressly authorized prison guards affix prisoners restraining bar disruptive work squad app alabama prison guards entitled rely validity duly promulgated state regulation instructing attach prisoners restraining bar specified circumstances see wilson layne crediting officer reliance marshals service policy important conclusion qualified immunity warranted area state law best undeveloped recounts petitioner placed restraining bar entering argument another inmate work duty may wrestling match guard arriving work site june ante argues respondents must aware wrongful character conduct precisely abide policy set forth adoc regulation ante even taking petitioner allegations true however loss understand respondents failed comply regulation respect respondents mcclaran pelzer involved may incident concedes required activity log filled date petitioner offered water bathroom breaks every minutes ante respect respondent gates complains log exists petitioner june stay bar record suggests periodic water offers contemplated regulation made petitioner however never alleged gates responsible supervising looking handcuffed post alleged gates placed also observes regulation provides inmate allowed join assigned whenever tells officer ready go work ante quoting app explain respondents case failed observe requirement petitioner never alleged informed respondents prison guard bar ready go work finally binding eleventh circuit precedent relied upon ante plainly insufficient give respondents fair warning alleged conduct ran afoul petitioner eighth amendment rights appeals held ort white prison guard violate inmate eighth amendment rights denying water refused work admits holding provides support petitioner instead claims reasoning ort gave fair warning respondents conduct crossed line constitutionally permissible ante ort provides least much support respondents petitioner instance ort makes abundantly clear prison guards authority use amount force coercive measures reasonably necessary enforce inmate compliance valid prison rules long measures undertaken maliciously sadistically sure correctly notes appeals ort suggested might reached different decision prison officer denied inmate water returned prison instead work squad suggestion dicta guard might violated prisoner eighth amendment rights denying water returned work duty come close clearly establishing unconstitutionality attaching disruptive inmate restraining bar removed work squad back within prison walls admittedly case upon relies gates collier point nevertheless gates also inadequate establish clearly unlawfulness respondents alleged conduct gates appeals listed handcuffing inmates fence cells long periods time one many unacceptable forms physical brutality abuse present mississippi prison others included administering milk magnesia form punishment depriving inmates mattresses hygienic materials adequate food shooting around inmates keep standing moving see ibid appeals difficulty reaching conclusion forms corporal punishment run afoul eighth amendment ibid reasonable however read gates establishing rule forbidding attachment prisoners restraining bar example referring fact prisoners handcuffed fence cells long periods time appeals indicate whether considered long period time hour hours hours appeals also provided explanation circumstances surrounding incidents opinion indicate whether handcuffed prisoners given water suitable restroom breaks whether handcuffed bid induce comply prison rules intervening years gates time respondents affixed petitioner restraining bar decisions clarifying contours law area therefore another interpreting gates noted blanket prohibition use punishment hitching post gates signal commissioner corrections let alone ordinary corrections officers mere use hitching post constitutional violation fountain talley supp md moreover eighth amendment law stood still since gates decided farmer brennan elucidated proper test measuring whether prison official state mind one deliberate indifference holding prison official found liable eighth amendment denying inmate humane conditions confinement unless official knows disregards excessive risk inmate health safety official must aware facts inference drawn substantial risk serious harm exists must also draw inference appeals gates consider subjective element gates alone clearly established affixing prisoners restraining bar clearly unconstitutional also face recent federal district decisions specifically rejecting prisoners claims alabama prison guards violated eighth amendment rights attaching restraining bar well state regulation authorizing conduct seems contrary purpose qualified immunity hold one vague sentence plucked appeals opinion provided clear notice respondents conduct unlawful unfortunate holds officer mcclaran sergeant pelzer lieutenant gates entitled qualified immunity clear respondents conduct violated eighth amendment certainly anticipated rule basis nonexistent allegations allegations involving behavior prison guards foregoing reasons affirm judgment appeals respectfully dissent footnotes review summary judgment appeals viewed facts light favorable hope nonmoving party case saucier katz appeals also referenced facts established austin hopper supp md appropriate austin suit brought alabama prisoners including hope district opinion case discusses hope allegations length supp summary judgment papers hope respondents referenced findings austin thus findings part record case see plaintiff preliminary response defendants special report record defendants response order app accordingly purposes review denial summary judgment austin findings may also assumed true reference appropriate austin explained hitching post horizontal bar made sturdy nonflexible material placed inches ground inmates handcuffed hitching post standing position remain standing entire time placed post inmates shackled hitching post two hands relatively close together face level supp repeated complaint hitching post however strain produced inmates muscles forcing remain standing position arms raised stationary position long period time addition exposure sunburn dehydration muscle aches inmates also placed substantial pain sun heats handcuffs shackle hitching post heats hitching post several inmates described way handcuffs burned chafed skin placement post appeals noted respondents produced activity log incident despite policy required log maintained supplemental app pet cert reaching conclusion appeals stated doc claims hope released hitching post asked return work evidence suggests case first hope never refused work may incident victim altercation work site never refused job june incident hope involved altercation prison guards nothing record however claiming refused work encouraged inmates refuse work therefore clear solution hitching post problem ask return work second hope placed car driven back limestone cuffed hitching post occasions given facts improbable hope said want go back work prison guard left post limestone drive hope back work site likely guards left hope post work detail returned teach inmates lesson since abolishing pillory century ago system justice consistently moved away forms punishment similar hitching posts prisons gates collier cir regard handcuffing inmates fence cells long periods time punishments stated difficulty reaching conclusion forms corporal punishment run afoul eighth amendment offend contemporary concepts decency human dignity precepts civilization profess possess gates doj report apparently district case appeals took judicial notice report referenced throughout decision awareness risk harm attributable individual respondent may evaluated part considering pattern treatment inmates generally received attached hitching post austin hopper district cited examples humiliating incidents resulting denial bathroom breaks one inmate permitted use restroom change clothing four hours defecated supp moreover certain corrections officers ignored denied inmates requests water access toilet facilities taunted clearly suffering dehydration see suissa fulton county lassiter alabama univ bd trustees hill dekalb regional youth detention center object clearly established immunity standard different fair warning relates law made specific purpose validly applying fact one civil criminal law role significance serve objective effect qualified immunity test simply adaptation fair warning standard give officials ultimately governments protection civil liability consequences individuals traditionally possessed face vague criminal statutes require something clearer clearly established call something beyond fair warning regulation provided district added record request appeals see app three decisions inmates given choice working restrained see whitson gillikin nd app dale murphy md ashby dees nd others inmates offered regular water bathroom breaks see lane findley cv nd williamson anderson md hollis folsom md finally vinson thompson md inmate restrained approximately minutes apparently decisions similar facts circuits presumably alabama state authorize use hitching post prison system footnotes despite consistent use term hitching post apparatus petitioner handcuffed restraining bar see dept corrections admin reg reprinted app petitioner also sued five guards connection fight occurred affixed restraining bar june later withdrew claims asked dismissed case see plaintiff special report brief response defendants motion summary judgment nd pp record doc see second affidavit larry hope nd record doc confusion actually affixed petitioner restraining bar may petitioner believe sergeant pelzer institutional incident report produced respondents written officer mcclaran indicates officers keith gates mark dempsey placed petitioner bar see exh petitioner acknowledged fact attached report second affidavit see consequently interpreting petitioner pleadings light favorable assume petitioner alleged pelzer gates dempsey cuffed bar may additionally assume officer keith gates mentioned officer mcclaran report person lieutenant jim gates respondent case worth noting however respondents vigorously dispute petitioner assertion lieutenant jim gates officer keith gates one see brief respondents petitioner yet produce evidence support somewhat incredible claim see plaintiff special report brief response defendant motion summary judgment record doc remaining claims defendants mcclaran pelzer gates connection may hitching post incident defendant gates connection june hitching post incident second affidavit larry hope record doc important note petitioner never maintained gates placed bar without shirt rather petitioner first affidavit see affidavit larry hope record doc well photographs appended exhibits petitioner second affidavit see second affidavit larry hope exhs record doc verified petitioner taken hitching post june indicate petitioner shirt removed attached bar effort rehabilitate opinion justice stevens argues specific nature respondents connection events may june falls outside scope questions presented see ante conducting qualified immunity analysis however courts merely ask whether taking plaintiff allegations true plaintiff clearly established rights violated rather courts must consider well whether defendant alleged conduct violated plaintiff clearly established rights instance allegation defendant violated plaintiff clearly established rights nothing overcome defendant assertion qualified immunity absent allegation defendant responsible defendant conduct similarly absence allegation petitioner respondents way responsible behavior prison guards may june conduct guards considered analyzing whether respondents entitled qualified immunity cf saucier katz discounting general principle police officer use force violates fourth amendment excessive objective standards reasonableness attempt distinguish away decisions serves undermine qualified immunity analysis appears suggest affixing prisoner restraining bar clearly unlawful long guards provide prisoner water regular bathroom breaks prisoner placed restraining bar result refusal work see ante previously explained see supra petitioner offered water bathroom breaks every minutes may stay bar never allegation either respondents mcclaran pelzer involved june incident respondent gates responsible denying petitioner water bathroom breaks date result even view law respondents entitled qualified immunity moreover nowhere explains respondents supposed figure permissible affix prisoners restraining bar refused work unlawful disruptive work duty claim distinction clearly established eighth amendment jurisprudence time nothing short incredible continue believe onditions confinement punishment recognized sense term unless imposed part sentence farmer brennan thomas concurring judgment result think original matter attaching petitioner restraining bar constituted punishment eighth amendment see ibid nevertheless recognize embraced opposite view eighth amendment regulate prison conditions imposed part sentence see estelle gamble apply jurisprudence evaluating whether respondents conduct violated clearly established law note however remain open overruling dubious expansion eighth amendment appropriate case see farmer supra thomas concurring judgment