In Bounds v. Smith, 430 U.S. 817 (1977), the United States Supreme Court considered an appeal by prison inmates who claimed that they were denied access to law libraries or legal assistance to challenge their sentences and conditions of imprisonment. The Bounds Court held that "the fundamental constitutional right of access to the courts requires prison authorities to assist inmates who are not entitled to court-appointed counsel in the preparation and filing of meaningful legal papers by providing prisoners with adequate law libraries or adequate assistance from persons trained in the law." 430 U.S. at 828.