Sunday, November 18, 2018

Recent Prisoner Free Exercise Cases

In Howard v. Polley, 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 190747 (D NV, Nov. 6, 2018), a Nevada federal district court allowed a Muslim inmate to move ahead with his complaint that it takes up to several weeks for Muslim inmates to be screened so they can attend Jumu'ah services, while there is no screening for Christian and Jewish inmates.

In Kindred v. Allenby, 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 191495 (ED CA, Nov. 8, 2018), a California federal magistrate judge held that an inmate's complaints regarding search and seizure of personal and religious property are subject to dismissal.

In Thomas v. Cox, 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 192576 (D NV, Nov. 9, 2018), a Nevada federal district court adopted a magistrate's recommendation (2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 192645, Oct. 24, 2018) and denied a preliminary injunction to prevent destruction of videos of the prison culinary area in connection with his complaint that he was not furnished kosher meals.

In Hansler v. Kelley, 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 192817 (WD AR, Nov. 13, 2018), an Arkansas federal district court dismissed a Wiccan inmate's complaint that his Wiccan Bible and Book of Grimoires were confiscated, and that there were no Wiccan religious leaders or volunteers to supervise its religious services.

In Doyle v. United States, 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 192924 (ED KY, Nov. 13, 2018), a Kentucky federal district court dismissed a Hanafi Muslim inmate's complaint that inmates could pray in groups no larger than three.

In Shakanasa v. Allison, 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 193482 (ND CA, Nov. 13, 2018), a California federal court allowed an inmate to move ahead with his complaint that he was not permitted to change his name or purchase religious items, and for retaliation.

In Wallace v. Solomon, 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 193662 (WD NC, Nov. 14, 2018), a North Carolina federal district court dismissed an inmate's complaint that the policy providing for non-meat selections is inadequate to comply with Islamic dietary law.