Howard Friedman, Religion Clause

In Timmons v. Polley, 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14533 (D NV, Jan. 29, 2019), a Nevada federal district court allowed a Muslim inmate to move ahead with complaints regarding inadequate Halal food during Ramadan, and refusal of permission to attend Jumah services and receive certain religious material.

In McKinney v. County of Imperial, 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14927 (CD CA, Jan. 30, 2019), a California federal district court adopted a magistrate’s recommendation (2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14927, Jan. 3, 2019) and dismissed, with leave to amend, a Jewish inmate’s claim for damages for denial of kosher meals.

In Sassi v. Dutchess County, 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15387 (ND NY, Jan. 23, 2019), a New York federal district court allowed a Catholic inmate to move ahead with his complaint that he was denied a Bible for several days, but dismissed his complaint regarding inability to attend Bible study groups.

In Hardy v. Agee, 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15093 (WD MI, Jan. 31, 2019), a Michigan federal district court, in a case on remand from the 6th Circuit, adopted a magistrate’s recommendation (2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 220438, Dec. 11, 2018) and dismissed a Muslim inmate’s complaint that he was not allowed for a period of time to attend religious services, and was not allowed to attend Taleem (study sessions) while on room restriction for refusing a work assignment.

In Dykes v. Benson, 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15990 (WD MI, Feb. 1, 2019), a Michigan federal district court allowed an inmate to move ahead with his complaint that he could not access his Koran for the first two weeks in segregation.