Howard Friedman, Religion Clause

In Fox v. Lee, 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19402 (ND NY, Feb. 5, 2018), a New York federal magistrate judge recommended denying an inmate’s motion for summary judgment in his suit claiming to be an adherent of the Anuaki religion and needing to wear his hair in a Mohawk cut for religious reasons.

In Blackbear v. Butler County Jail, 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19935 (D KA, Feb. 7, 2018), a Kansas federal district court rejected an inmate’s complaint that for 3 weeks he was denied a special diet he needed for religious reasons.

In Sajous v. Withers, 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 20191 (SD FL, Feb. 6, 2018), a Florida federal district court adopted a magistrate’s recommendations (2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 20820, Jan. 16, 2018) and dismissed an inmate’s complaint that a Haitian Flag Day ceremonial meal was canceled and that he is unable to practice his Vodoo religion.

In Williams v. Paramo, 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 21191 (SD CA, Feb. 7, 2018), a California federal district court allowed an inmate to move ahead with his complaint that he was not allowed to participate in Ramadan in 2017.

In Icangelo v. County of Suffolk, 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 21903 (ED NY, Feb. 8, 2018), a New York federal magistrate judge allowed an inmate to move ahead with this complaint that for 6 weeks he was not allowed to attend Jummah religious services.