Monroe et al v. Rauner et al

Filing 773

ORDER: The appointment of Dr. Amanda Harris as first Co-Monitor shall continue. This appointment will be reviewed again in another six months. Signed by Chief Judge Nancy J. Rosenstengel on 4/16/2024. (beb)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
JANIAH MONROE, et al.,
individually and on behalf of a class of
similarly situated individuals,
Plaintiffs,
Case No. 3:18-CV-00156-NJR

v.
STEVEN BOWMAN,
MELVIN HINTON, and
LATOYA HUGHES,
Defendants.

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
ROSENSTENGEL, Chief Judge:
This matter is before the Court pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3626(f)(5) for the fourth sixmonth review of the appointment of first Co-Monitor Amanda L. Harris, M.D. (Doc. 418; see
also Doc. 653). Harris was charged with monitoring Defendants’ compliance with the courtordered injunctive relief regarding hormone therapy, regular blood work, and appropriate
titration of doses and/or additional testing/treatment; gender affirming surgery evaluation,
scheduling, and pre- and post-operative care (including monitoring the CQI 1 program and
IDOC medical providers’ compliance with WPATH 2 training and continuing education); and
transfers of class members to achieve medically necessary social transition. (Doc. 370, pp. 711; Doc. 384). This has involved review of voluminous medical records for approximately
195 class members, as well as assisting Defendants to compile an accurate list of inmates who

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Continuing Quality Improvement.
World Professional Association for Transgender Health.

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are in the class, extensive communication with IDOC medical and mental health staff as well
as outside providers, review of records on transfer requests and outcomes, participation in
several status conferences and evidentiary hearings with the Court and parties, and
consultation with Defendants regarding revisions to the Administrative Directives on
transgender prisoners. (Doc. 439, pp. 1-2, 12; Doc. 674; Doc. 714).
Since her appointment on April 5, 2022, Dr. Harris has submitted reports to the Court
and parties regarding the above matters and reported to the Court on the meetings between
the parties and the Co-Monitors (Docs. 439, 502, 592, 674).
Dr. Harris has reported improvements in the delivery and monitoring of hormone
therapy, and continues to receive regular updates from Defendants regarding endocrinology
consults, PRISM enrollment, census lists, lab values, surgical consults, and transfer decisions,
to enable her to continue to monitor these matters. Monitoring of these issues continues to be
necessary in order to determine whether Defendants are moving toward compliance with the
Court’s Orders. It is anticipated that Dr. Harris will coordinate and consult with the person
that Defendants plan to hire as an in-house patient navigator (See Docs. 766, 769).
Based on the above, the Court concludes that the appointment of Dr. Harris as first
Co-Monitor shall continue. This matter is still in the remedial phase. Dr. Harris’s expertise
continues to be necessary to advise and assist the Court in monitoring Defendants’
compliance with the Court’s directives in this case, as well as to advise the parties on policies
and procedures that will achieve compliance with constitutional standards of care and
conditions of confinement. This appointment will be reviewed again in another six months.

As previously noted, the hourly compensation rate for both Co-Monitors (special
masters) is the rate established under 18 U.S.C. § 3006A for payment of court appointed
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counsel. (Doc. 423, pp. 5-6; Doc. 561). This hourly rate is currently $172.00; thus CoMonitor Harris will be compensated from the Court’s appropriated funds at this rate plus
costs reasonably incurred by the Co-monitor.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
DATED: April 16, 2024
_s/ Nancy J. Rosenstengel____
NANCY J. ROSENSTENGEL
Chief U.S. District Judge

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