Sunday, May 13, 2018

Recent Prisoner Free Exercise Cases

In Hammock v. Pierce, 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 76797 (SD NY, May 7, 2018), a New York federal district court allowed a Nation of Islam inmate to move ahead with his complaint that his cassette tapes containing NOI teachings were confiscated when his cell was searched.

In Gwyn v. Booker, 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 77119 (WD VA, May 7, 2018), a Virginia federal district court dismissed an inmate's complaint that authorities refused to approve meetings for inmates of the Apostolic faith, separate from multi-denominational Protestant services.

In Wells v. McKoy, 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 77516 (ND NY, May 7, 2018), a New York federal magistrate judge recommended dismissing complaints by plaintiffs that the Nation of Islam community was not allowed to select the inmates who would prepare the meals served during Ramadan, and that they were served food during Ramadan that did not meet NOI dietary restrictions.

In Harris v. Food Supervisor Carlock, 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 77983 (CD IL, May 9, 2018), an Illinois federal district court allowed an inmate to move ahead with his claim that he was denied his religious vegan diet for an eight day period.

In Hammer v. Smith, 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 80169 (WD VA, May 10, 2018), a Virginia federal district court dismissed, without prejudice, a civil detainee's claim that state hospital policy violated his free exercise rights by denying him "the right to enter into holy matrimony".