11th Circuit Denies Native American Prisoner's Religion Claims

In Brunskill v. Boyd , decided yesterday, the US 11th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected free exercise, establishment clause, equal protection and RLUIPA claims by a Native American who practices the Tobacco Indian religion. The inmate had charged that prison rules requiring him to cut his hair were unconstitutional, as were those denying him access to tobacco, sage, cedar, sweetgrass, beads, leather, thread, needles, and feathers used for religious purposes.