BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) – Louisiana State Penitentiary inmates and prison officials are currently awaiting a decision from U.S. District Judge Brian Jackson on a civil rights lawsuit filed against the prison in June.

Jackson took a tour of the penitentiary, also known as Angola, on August 12 to determine whether or not the heat conditions on death row violate the rights of the inmates Elzie Ball, Nathanial Code and James Magee and whether or not the prison officials are failing to protect them from cruel and unusual punishment.

“It’s important for the court to issue a ruling in the short-term, or in the near-term I should say,” Jackson said.

Nilay Vora, an attorney representing the three inmates, said the state penitentiary should add air conditioning or another type of mechanical cooling system on death row that will keep the heat index below 88 degrees. He even added that animal shelters are required to have cooling systems.

“Mr. Ball, Mr. Code and Mr. Magee deserve more than what is required for dogs and cats,” Vora said.

The inmates and prison officials are still awaiting Jackson’s decision.