Howard Friedman, Religion Clause

In Orwig v. Chapdelane, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 38875 (D CO, March 17, 2017), a Colorado federal district court allowed an inmate to proceed with some of his claims complaining he was prohibited from carrying his pocket Bible outside of his POD (other to and from religious services), thus compelling him to give up his prison work and incur punishment for doing so. The magistrate’s recommendation is at 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 38874, Feb. 16, 2017.

In Christian Separatist Church Society v. Mohr, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 38902 (SD OH, March 17, 2017), an Ohio federal district court adopted a magistrate’s recommendation (2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 38901, Jan. 30, 2017) and allowed an inmate to proceed with his RLUIPA complaint that members of the Christian Separatist Church are not permitted to conduct their own communal worship services separate from other Protestant services.

In Staples v. New Hampshire State Prison, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 39615 (D NH, March 17, 2017), a New Hampshire federal district court dismissed a complaint by a Taoist inmate that he was penalized for not complying with the prison’s beard policy and was denied access to Taoist resources.

In Strickland v. Godinez, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 39707 (SD IL, March 20, 2017), an Illinois federal district court dismissed a complaint by an inmate who practices  Asatru/ Odinism that he was denied various religious items, celebration of religious holidays and group services.

In Leshowitz v. Collins, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 39877 (WD WA, March 20, 2017), a Washington federal district court adopted a magistrate’s recommendation (2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 39885, Feb. 10, 2017) and dismissed an inmate’s complaint that his Bible calendar was thrown away.

In Avery v. Beard, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 39895 (SD CA, March 20, 2017), a California federal district court allowed an inmate to move ahead with his complaint about the lack of a separate outdoor spiritual area for practitioners of the Wiccan and Odinist/Asatru religions.  The court also granted a 90 stay so plaintiff could exhaust administrative remedies on his complaint that Wiccans should have access to a sweat lodge.