Introduction
In Part 1 of this blog, I detailed how the Anders Brief is used by state court-appointed attorneys in Arizona as a tool to seal the fate of defendants, shutting down their appeals and, effectively, their chances at justice. However, the injustice doesn’t end there. For those incarcerated in Arizona, fighting a legal battle as a pro se litigant is a constant, uphill struggle against a system designed to impede and hinder at every turn. My own personal struggles are a testament to this.
Fighting a Legal Battle Pro Se: The Odds are Against You
Imagine being thrown into one of the most oppressive environments in existence—a prison—while being tasked with defending your own life and future without legal representation. That’s what it means to be pro se in the Arizona Department of Corrections (ADC). The system is rigged, not just in the courtrooms but also behind the prison walls, where those attempting to fight their legal cases face a plethora of institutional barriers deliberately designed to thwart their progress.
From the moment I began my pro se legal battle, I encountered relentless obstacles. Filing legal documents, gathering necessary materials, or even receiving updates on my case were all made nearly impossible. The prison’s mail system, supposedly the lifeline between incarcerated individuals and the courts, was nothing short of a deliberate tool of delay. Legal documents would take weeks, sometimes months, to arrive—or they would disappear entirely. This practice of delaying or “losing” legal mail was no accident. It was a systematic approach to obstruct my ability to meet critical filing deadlines or to respond effectively to motions and court demands. The attorneys, the prosecutors and the judges – all knows this way too well, and they have been comfortable knowing they face no real consequences as the system is designed in their favor.
The Legal Materials and Law Library Obstruction
Access to legal materials in Arizona’s prisons is laughable. As a pro se litigant, I had the right to access case law, court rulings, statutes, and other necessary legal resources to build my case. However, the reality was that the ADC did everything it could to limit access to these materials. The prison’s so-called “law library” was hardly that—often outdated and lacking the basic resources necessary to conduct serious legal research. Requests for legal materials were frequently delayed or denied under the guise of “safety and security,” making it impossible to prepare an adequate defense.
“18 U.S.C. 1510. Obstruction of criminal investigations
(a) Whoever willfully endeavors by means of bribery to obstruct, delay, or prevent the communication of information relating to a violation of any criminal statute of the United States by any person to a criminal investigator shall be fined under this title, or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.”
In many cases, even when I could access the law library, my time there was strictly limited. Instead of having reasonable hours to study and prepare, I was given a meager window, usually no more than an hour or two per week, with no guarantee that I would have access to the materials I needed. This meant that every aspect of my legal fight was stretched out indefinitely, leaving me constantly scrambling to meet court deadlines, all while the state attorney enjoyed unfettered access to the necessary tools to destroy my case at their leisure.
“In Johnson v. Avery and in Gilmore v. Lynch, both Supreme Court and Federal court decisions established the rights of prison inmates to have reasonable and adequate access to law libraries or to other methods of legal assistance.” – U.S. Supreme Court
‘Safety and Security’: A Mask for Constant Danger
Beyond the legal hurdles, there was the constant danger to my life and well-being, all wrapped in the ADC’s justification of “safety and security.” The prison system regularly moved me from one dangerous environment to another under the pretense of “security concerns,” continuously placing my life at risk. This constant shuffle wasn’t just about intimidation; it was about deliberately impeding my ability to focus on my case. Every day was a battle for survival, and in such an environment, focusing on legal work becomes nearly impossible. I’ve witnessed 6 murders. To speak to DOC officials, was a no no. I have insomnia because of this to this day. I trust no one.
The Arizona Department of Corrections uses “safety and security” as an excuse to perpetuate dangerous and dehumanizing conditions. I, like many others, was housed in violent and overcrowded facilities where gang activity and racial tensions were rampant. Rather than protecting me, the system placed me directly in harm’s way, hoping to distract or demoralize me from continuing my legal fight. Every altercation or dangerous situation was not just a physical threat; it was a deliberate mental strategy to break me down and keep me from adequately preparing my case.
A Battle Against the State and its “Friends”
Meanwhile, on the other side of the courtroom, the state attorney had every resource available to destroy my life—resources I could only dream of accessing. State attorneys have a disturbing amount of power, wielded with the help of a network of “friends” inside and outside the legal system. These “friends” include fellow prosecutors, judges, court-appointed attorneys, and even prison staff, all of whom work together to maintain the state’s upper hand.
In my case, the state attorney not only had the benefit of unlimited access to legal resources but also the luxury of manipulating court processes and the support of a biased system. This system made it almost impossible for me to mount an effective defense. Every day, I had to contend with both the physical threat of incarceration and the relentless onslaught of legal attacks from a prosecutor who had the full support of the judicial system. Fighting the state was like fighting a shadow—you could never quite catch it, and the moment you tried, it had already moved on to the next tactic to thwart your efforts.
“I believe the State of Arizona tried to have me murdered while incarcerated numerous times over a 6 year period.” – Ewing Redmond Samuels III
Conclusion: A System Designed to Fail You
The Arizona Department of Corrections, in conjunction with the legal system, has created an environment where it is almost impossible for those incarcerated to effectively fight their cases. As a pro se litigant, I faced an array of systemic barriers, from the obstruction of legal mail and limited law library access to the constant danger of prison life under the guise of “safety and security.” All the while, the state attorney had every advantage at their disposal, aided by a network of allies that worked to maintain my wrongful conviction.
This is not just an isolated issue; it is a widespread and deliberate pattern of injustice in Arizona’s prison and legal systems. These systemic abuses must be exposed and addressed—not only for the sake of those currently fighting for their freedom but for the integrity of the justice system itself. You are not fighting one individual, it is an entire system that is predatory with obvious customs rooted in white supremacy.
Until Next Time…
I Am,
Ewing Redmond Samuels III
Stay tuned for more insights as we continue to explore how the Arizona legal system systematically undermines justice.
