Howard Friedman, Religion Clause
In Davis v. Heyns, 2017 U.S. App. LEXIS 20377 (6th Cir, Oct 16, 2017), the 6th Circuit affirmed dismissal of an Muslim inmate’s complaint that the only religious diet he could receive was the vegan diet.
In Cooper v. Bower, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 171529 (WD KY, Oct. 17, 2017), a Kentucky federal district court dismissed for failure to exhaust administrative remedies an inmate’s complaint that he was not allowed to receive a copy of the Quran which had been ordered for him.
In Howard v. Connett, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 172130 (D NV, Oct. 17, 2017), a California federal district court reduced the punitive damages that had previously been awarded against two specific defendants on an inmate’s complaint that his religious items were not returned when he was placed in a different cell, and his equal protection complaint that he was unable to attend Nation of Islam services. The court refused to reduce punitive damages as to other claims.
In Cripe v. Gliddenn, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 172393 (SD IL, Oct. 18, 2017), an Illinois federal district court allowed a Jewish inmate to move ahead with his complaint that he was denied a kosher diet.
In Toney v. Harrod, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 173946 (D KA, Oct. 20, 2017), a Kansas federal district court allowed a Muslim inmate to move ahead against one defendant on his claim that his Ramadan meals were not served early enough.
In Johnson v. Little, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 174006 (D NV, Oct. 18, 2017), a Nevada federal district court refused to dismiss a Muslim inmate’s complaint regarding the timing of his Ramadan meals.
In Moir v. Amdahl, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 174216 (SD IL, Oct. 19, 2017), an Illinois federal district court allowed a Muslim inmate to move ahead with his complaint that his prayer rug was confiscated.
In Sassi v. Dutchess County, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 174507 (ND NY, Oct. 20, 2017), a New York federal district court dismissed with leave to amend an inmate’s claim that he was not permitted to access a Bible for seven days and was not permitted to participate in Bible study classes.