Posted Thursday, January 3, 2013 --- 11:35 a.m.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- A state appeals court has refused to reinstate a lawsuit alleging prison officials improperly denied an inmate access to what they deemed were pornographic publications.

Green Bay Correctional Institution inmate Charles Downing filed the suit in 2010. He alleged prison officials improperly denied his request to order copies of two collections of letters to Penthouse magazine, confiscated his copies of a number of other books, including "The Encyclopedia of Unusual Sex Practices," and placed another eight books he wanted on the prohibited publications list.

A Madison judge dismissed the case in 2011. The 4th District Court of Appeals upheld the decision in a ruling Thursday, concluding Downing had no grounds to sue.

Online court records indicated Downing represented himself in the case.

Copyright 2013: Associated Press