Howard Friedman, Religion Clause

In Jannisch v. Bates, 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 199718 (D MY, Nov. 26. 2018), a Montana federal district court adopted a magistrate’s recommendation (2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 200612, Aug. 27, 2018) and dismissed a Native American inmate’s complaint regarding confiscation and destruction of his religious property.

In Salas v. Ducart, 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 199724 (ND CA, Nov. 26, 2018), a California federal district court allowed a Jewish inmate to move ahead with complaint regarding the availability of kosher meals, religious meal ceremonies and a Seder meal.

In Vann v. Griffin, 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 201577 (SD NY, Nov. 28, 2018), a New York federal district court dismissed an inmate’s complaint that correctional officers on five occasions interfered with his religious practice by touching his Santeria beads, crushing his cigar, looking through his religious pouches, or desecrating his religious objects.

In Alsaifullah v. State of New York, 2018 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 8141 (NY App. Div., Nov. 29, 2018), a New York state appeals court held that the Court of Claims properly dismissed a Muslim inmate’s complaint that he was deprived of meals for two holy days.

In Bybee v. Monroe County Detention Facilities, 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 202452 (SD FL, Nov. 28, 2018), a Florida federal magistrate judge recommended denying a temporary restraining order to an inmate complaining about access to kosher food.