Lawyers Argue Prisoner RLUIPA Case Before 1st Circuit

The Associated Press reported on yesterday's oral arguments before the U.S. 1st Circuit Court of Appeals in Spratt v. Wall, a case arising under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act. (See prior posting.) At issue is whether the warden at a Rhode Island prison was justified in prohibiting convicted killer Wesley Spratt from preaching to fellow inmates in a maximum security unit of the prison. Spratt believes he has been called upon by God to preach to other Christians and preached to an inmate congregation at weekly services in the prison chapel or dining room before a new warden stopped the practice. The state argued that prison was entitled to act pre-emptively to prevent potential security risks.