Can a judge create a protected liberty interest in a state prison?

Nevertheless, a protected liberty interest can be created by state law. Id. at 461. Such a liberty interest is created when a state places substantive limitations on official discretion. Id. at 462. If the prison regulations contain " 'explicitly mandatory language' [such as] specific directives to the decisionmaker that if the regulations, substantive predicates are present, a particular outcome must follow," a liberty interest is created. Id. at 463. See also Mendoza v. Blodgett, 960 F.2d 1425, 1432-33 (9th Cir.1992) (holding that Washington state prison regulations contained the substantive predicates necessary to create a liberty interest in visitation).