Sunday, October 12, 2014

Recent Prisoner Free Exercise Cases

In Elizondo v. Livingston, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 141413 (ND T, Oct. 3, 2014), a Texas federal district court dismissed an inmate's complaint that for safety purposes he needed to be single celled or celled with someone of his same Jewish faith.

In Storm v. Reinke, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 141472 (D ID, Sept. 29, 2014). an Idaho federal district court dismissed an inmate's claim in a habeas corpus proceeding that, while on parole, his free exercise rights were curtailed when he was placed on sex offender caseload. The court concluded that the claim does not bear on petitioner's custody.

In Strickland v. Godinez, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 141863 (SD IL, Oct. 6, 2014), an Illinois federal district court permitted an inmate to proceed with his free exercise and RLUIPA claims that he is being denied Asatru group worship as well as individual Asatru ritual practices.