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County Jail in Oklahoma Accused of Coercing Detainees to Convert to Christianity by The Freedom from Religion Foundation (FFRF), a nonprofit advocacy organization based in Madison, Wisconsin, claims that it received a complaint from a community member in Cleveland County, Oklahoma, that the local sheriff’s office was promoting religion in …
SCOTUS Hears Oral Arguments on Rastafarian Hair-­Cutting Case by Michael Thompson by Michael Thompson Damon Landor is a devout Rastafarian who grew his hair for decades without cutting it as part of his “Nazarite Vow.” Accordingly, his hair had grown long enough to reach nearly to his knees by the …
Arkansas “Jailhouse Attorney” Secures Return from Retaliatory Transfer Out of State by Chuck Sharman by Chuck Sharman In a settlement reached on October 22, 2025, the Arkansas Department of Corrections (DOC) agreed to repatriate a state prisoner shipped to a federal lockup in West Virginia, restoring his job upon return …
Eighth Circuit Orders Preliminary Injunction Requiring Minnesota to Reinstate Program Teaching Biblical “Authentic Manhood” by Matthew Clarke by Matt Clarke On August 14, 2025, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit ordered the issuance of a preliminary injunction compelling the Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC) to reinstate …
Brief • September 3, 2025
Landor v. Louisiana Dept of Corrections, LA, Amicus Brief, Religious Practice, 2025 No. 23-1197 IN THE Supreme Court of the United States ________________ DAMON LANDOR, Petitioner, v. LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND PUBLIC SAFETY, ET AL., Respondents. ________________ ON WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR …
$95,000 Paid to Nevada Prisoner Denied Muslim Prayer; Pending Cases Allege Continued Discrimination Against Non-Protestants by Chuck Sharman On December 6, 2024, two Nevada prisoners filed notices as interested parties in the religious discrimination case of a third, Said Elmajzoub. By that point, he had won a $95,000 settlement from …
Wiccan Nevada Prisoner Wins 18-Year Fight for Religious Items by Clark Nelly On November 13, 2024, Nevada prisoner Anthony Thomas Chernetsky finally secured what he had fought over 18 years to get from the state Department of Corrections (DOC): Permission to use natural anointing oils and build a sweatlodge to …
Fifth Circuit Reinstates Baha’i Texas Prisoner’s Dietary Claim by Matthew Clarke On September 11, 2024, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit vacated a summary judgment dismissing a prisoner’s claim that the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) refused to provide him a diet that conformed to …
Muslim New York Prisoner’s Free Exercise of Religion Claim Reinstated by David Reutter by David M. Reutter On May 15, 2024, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit reversed summary judgment on a New York prisoner’s First Amendment free exercise claim while also affirming a jury’s verdict …
Eighth Circuit: Perfect Adherence to Burdened Beliefs Not Required to Demonstrate Sincerity under RLUIPA by Douglas Ankney by Douglas Ankney On November 2, 2023, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit held that the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc, does not require …
Fourth Circuit Moves North Carolina Prisons Closer to Recognizing Nation of Gods and Earths by Matthew Clarke by Matt Clarke On December 13, 2023, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit held that a group of North Carolina prisoners can be treated like adherents of a religion even …
Muslim Florida Prisoner Awarded Permanent Injunction to Grow Untrimmed Beard by David Reutter by David M. Reutter On August 14, 2023, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida awarded a permanent injunction to state prisoner Owen D. Denson, a Muslim known as Abdul Hakeen Jahmal Naseer Shabazz, …
New Jersey Prisoner’s Suit Survives Seeking to Validate the Nation of Gods and Earth as a Religion by David Reutter by David M. Reutter On September 12, 2022, the federal court for the District of New Jersey denied a motion for summary judgment by the defendant New Jersey Department of …
Brief • November 14, 2023
Gary v. Alaska Dept of Corrections, AK, Complaint, Religious Accomodations, 2023 ACLU OF ALASKA FOUNDATION 1057 W. Fireweed Ln. Suite 207 Anchorage, Alaska 99503 TEL: 907.258.0044 FAX: 907.263.2016 EMAIL: courtfilings@acluak.org Ruth Botstein Alaska Bar No. 9906016 Melody Vidmar Alaska Bar No. 2305044 ACLU of Alaska Foundation 1057 West Fireweed Lane, …
Article • September 15, 2023 • from PLN September, 2023
Prison Ministry Sues Indiana Jail Over Book Ban by Unshackled Hearts is a central Indiana prison ministry that says its mission is to bring spiritual “restoration and freedom” to incarcerated Hoosiers through bible study, positive communication, and heart healing. But it hit a wall at the Howard County Jail (HCJ) …
Brief • July 18, 2023
Miller v. Marshall, WV, Memo and Order, Religious Exercise, 2023 Case 2:23-cv-00304 Document 30 Filed 07/18/23 Page 1 of 59 PageID #: 406 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF WEST VIRGINIA CHARLESTON DIVISION ANDREW T. MILLER, Plaintiff, v. CIVIL ACTION NO. 2:23-cv-00304 WILLIAM K. MARSHALL, …
Second Circuit: No Qualified Immunity for Wardens Accused of Violating Religious Freedom of Muslim Prisoners in Connecticut by Benjamin Tschirhart by Benjamin Tschirhart On June 17, 2022, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit upheld a lower court’s decision denying qualified immunity (QI) to federal prison wardens in …
Eleventh Circuit Says Passover Sign-Up Requirement in Florida Jail Passes Constitutional Muster by David Reutter by David M. Reutter On June 10, 2022, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit ruled that a Florida jail’s policy requiring detainees to sign up for Passover meals 45 days in advance …
Article • December 12, 2022
Eleventh Circuit: Prisoner’s Religious Rights Not Violated by Georgia’s Shower Escort Policy by David Reutter by David M. Reutter On June 30, 2022, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed judgment for Georgia prison officials in a lawsuit alleging the policy governing prisoner shower escorts violated their …
Article • April 1, 2022 • from PLN April, 2022
Tenth Circuit Denies Qualified Immunity to Colorado Prison Officials Who Shut Down Native American Religious Activities by Jayson Hawkins by Jayson Hawkins On July 21, 2021, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit affirmed the ruling of a lower court in Colorado that denied a motion by state …
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