In Knox v. Bland, (10th Cir., Feb. 14, 2011), the 10th Circuit rejected an inmate's claim that his constitutional rights were violated when a state court refused to grant his petition to change his name for religious reasons to Ali Ishmael Mandingo Warrior Chief. The 10th Circuit relied on the Rooker/ Feldman abstention doctrine and other jurisdictional limits.
In Scott v. Pierce, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13943 (SD TX, Feb. 3, 2011), a Texas federal district court refused to dismiss 1st Amendment and RLUIPA claims by a Jehovah's Witness inmate complaining that he and his co-religionists were not permitted to meet on a number of Saturdays because no outside volunteer to lead their religious services was available.
In Burnight v. Sisto, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13794 (ED CA, Feb. 10, 2011), a California federal magistrate judge recommended denying an inmate's habeas corpus petition. Petitioner claimed the parole board denied him parole in part because he failed to attend a faith-based Alcoholics Anonymous program. The court concluded that attendance was not required in order to be found suitable for parole.
