Sunday, October 26, 2014

Recent Prisoner Free Exercise Cases

In Blalock v. Jacobsen, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 148746 (SD NY, Oct. 29, 2014), a New York federal district court dismissed a Muslim inmate's complaint that he was twice unable to attend religious services while awaiting a disciplinary hearing, and that on two occasions he was required to wear his pants longer than allowed by Muslim law.

In Nible v. California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 148898 (ED CA, Oct. 17, 2014), a California federal magistrate judge dismissed complaints of an inmate who is an Asatru/Odinic practitioner that he was denied use of outdoor grounds, chapel time equal to others, and was denied drinking horns and other items needed for religious rituals and study.

In Weatherspoon v. Sparkman, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 149413 (ND MS, Oct. 20, 2014), a Mississippi federal district court dismissed a Muslim inmate's complaint that inadequate timely facilities were provided in his unit for weekly Jumu'ah services. Prison authorities had offered to transfer plaintiff to a different unit where services are available at the required times, but plaintiff refused.

In Hodges v. Sharon, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 150089 (ED CA, Oct. 22, 2014), a California federal magistrate judge recommended dismissing a claim for damages under RLUIPA brought by a Messianic Jewish inmate who complained about various restrictions on his ability to practice his religion. He was allowed to proceed with his attempt to obtain an injunction.