In Mikell v. Sibanda, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 163345 (WD PA, Nov. 28, 2016), a Pennsylvania federal magistrate judge dismissed a Muslim inmate's complaint that he did not receive Ramadan meals in 2012 even though he was on the Ramadan list.
In Bizzell v. King County Department of Adult & Juvenile Detention, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 163639 (WD WA, Nov. 28, 2016), a Washington federal district court adopted a magistrate's recommendations (2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 163725, Oct. 24, 2016) and dismissed without prejudice for failing to exhaust administrative remedies a Muslim inmate's complaint that his request to attend Jum'ah services was denied, as was his request for a kufi and his request to be added to the Ramadan meal list. However the federal magistrate indicated that had plaintiff exhausted his remedies the court would have found the denials of Ramadan meals under an all or none policy and denial of a kufi to violate RLUIPA.
In Hamrick v. Baird, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 164426 (SD IL, Nov. 29, 2016), an Illinois federal district court allowed an inmate to proceed with his claims that his free exercise, RFRA and equal protection rights were infringed by a policy that barred Muslim inmates from participating in group prayer or group religious activity.
In Salik v. Illinois Department of Corrections, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 166242 (SD IL, Dec. 1, 2016), an Illinois federal district court permitted a Muslim inmate to move ahead against some of the defendants on his complaint that he was removed from the Ramadan meal list for refusing to attend chapel services; and that he was initially denied a halal diet and then was placed on a diet more restrictive that his religion required.
In Ferguson-El v. Horton, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 166244 (WD VA, Nov. 30, 2016), a Virginia federal district court dismissed an inmate's complaint that he was threatened with segregation for teaching Sovereign Citizen ideology as part of a meeting for Moorish Science Temple of America adherents.
In Bennett v. Burt, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 166452 (WD MI, Dec. 2, 2016), a Michigan federal district court dismissed an inmate's complaint that he lost 4 days work until he was transferred from a work assignment that would have required him to work on Saturday (his Sabbath) to another assignment.
In Winnett v. Bray, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 166560 (ED AR, Dec. 2, 2106), an Arkansas federal district court adopted a magistrate's recommendations (2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 166666, Nov. 18, 2016) and allowed an inmate to move ahead on his complaint that he was denied Sabbath meals prepared in compliance with the requirements of his religion.
In Arendas v. Mesa County, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 166732 (D CO, Nov. 29, 2016), a Colorado federal magistrate judge recommended dismissing an action by an inmate seeking an injunction and $1 million in damages who contended the requirement that he wear an identification wrist band violates his Catholic religious belief that he may not wear a non-medically related unremovable item on his body.
In Etterson v. Newcome, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 166986 (ED VA, Dec. 1, 2016), a Virginia federal district court dismissed without prejudice for failure to exhaust administrative remedies a Muslim inmate's complaint that he was removed from the list for Ramadan meals after he was observed eating during the fast.
