Date: October 6,2025

Dear Supporters,
We write to you today with grave concern about a disturbing development in Dr. Shiva Akula's case. Dr. Akula has been placed in the Special Housing Unit (SHU) at FCI Memphis—commonly known as "the hole" or solitary confinement.

Why This Matters:
Dr. Akula is at a critical juncture in his fight for freedom. He has a pending appeal before the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals (Case No. 24-30315) and needs immediate access to his 13,204-page case file to participate meaningfully in his defense. Placement in the SHU effectively strips him of his constitutional right to court access at the most crucial moment in his legal battle.

For months, Dr. Akula has already faced systematic obstruction in accessing his legal materials. Prison staff have engaged in bureaucratic deflection, shifting responsibility between departments and imposing contradictory requirements that have prevented him from reviewing critical documents needed for his appeal. Now, isolated in solitary confinement, he cannot effectively or meaningfully exercise his court access rights at all.

The Constitutional Crisis:
The Supreme Court has established that inmates possess a constitutional right to meaningful access to courts. The Bureau of Prisons' own regulations mandate that inmates receive "reasonable access to legal materials" and "reasonable opportunity to prepare legal documents." Dr. Akula's placement in the SHU while his appeal is pending represents a clear violation of these fundamental rights and threatens irreparable harm to his case.

Your Voice Can Make a Difference:
We are asking all supporters to immediately contact FCI Memphis officials and demand that Dr. Akula be returned to general population where he can access his legal materials and prepare his defense.
Contact Information for FCI Memphis:
Address:
FCI Memphis
1101 John A. Denie Road
Memphis, TN 38134
Email: MEM-ExecAssistant-S@bop.gov
Phone: 901-372-2269
Fax: 901-384-5462

What to Say:
When you contact FCI Memphis, please be respectful but firm. You may use the following talking points:

• Request that Dr. Shiva Akula (Register No. 61778-509) be immediately returned to general population
• Express concern that his placement in the SHU violates his constitutional right to court access
• Note that he has a pending appeal before the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and requires access to his legal materials
• Request that prison officials ensure he receives reasonable and consistent access to his 13,204-page case file

Time is Critical:
Appeal deadlines do not stop because an inmate is placed in solitary confinement. Every day Dr. Akula remains in the SHU without access to his legal materials causes further harm to his ability to defend himself and pursue justice.

Dr. Akula maintains his innocence and has documented serious concerns about prosecutorial misconduct, fabricated evidence, and violations of his constitutional rights throughout his prosecution. He deserves the opportunity to present his case to the appellate court—but he cannot do so from solitary confinement without access to his own legal documents.

Thank you for standing with Dr. Akula in his fight for justice.

Please take action today by contacting FCI Memphis and sharing this update with your networks.

In solidarity,

The Legal Team