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e-Li: Electronic Library

Correspondence From County Clerks

Correspondence from a county clerk or register of deeds may be opened pursuant to a prison’s regular mail policy without violating the First Amendment rights of a prisoner when there is no specific indication that the envelope contains confidential, personal, or privileged material; that it was sent from an attorney; that it relates to a currently pending legal matter in which the inmate is involved; or that it is to be opened only in the presence of the prisoner. As a general matter mail from a county clerk or register of deeds does not implicate constitutionally protected legal mail rights. Sallier, 343 F.3d at 876.