Howard Friedman, Religion Clause

In Ajala v. West, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 163003 (WD WI, Nov. 19,2014), a Wisconsin federal district court dismissed a Muslim inmate’s complaint that he was denied a halal diet and that officials refused to serve him the prepackaged meals that Jewish prisoners receiving kosher meals received.

In Dockery v. Wetzel, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 163403 (MD PA, Nov. 21, 2014), a Pennsylvania federal district court dismissed a Muslim inmate’s complaint that his request for a halal diet with meat was refused; that he was not permitted to leave his unit (one for inmates with serious mental health and disciplinary problems) to attend Jumu’ah services with the general population; and he was not permitted to view religious services on closed circuit TV.

In Graddy v. Ding, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 163489 (ED CA, Nov, 20, 2014), a California federal magistrate judge dismissed with leave to amend a Muslim inmate’s complaint that he was not allowed to participate in Ramadan activities while on “C Status” because of his misbehavior.

In Nji v. Heath, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 163060 (SD NY, Nov. 10, 2014), a New York federal district court dismissed for failure to exhaust administrative remedies an inmate’s complaint that as a keeplock inmate he was not allowed to attend Christmas religious services.

In Houston v. Schriro, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 165409 (SD NY, Nov. 24, 2014), a New York federal district court allowed an inmate to proceed with his complaint that he was denied low-sodium halal meals.