Howard Friedman, Religion Clause

In Abdullah v. Cohen, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 174961 (D NJ, Oct. 23, 2017), a New Jersey federal district court dismissed without prejudice an inmate’s suit alleging that hie was not on the Ramadan list and that his isolation in jail prevents him from practicing his religion.

In Green v. Frank Parish Detention Center, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 175215 (WD LA, Oct. 20, 2017), a Louisiana federal district court adopted a magistrate’s recommendation (2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 175704, Sept. 19, 2017) and dismissed a Muslim inmate’s complaint that group Jumah religious services are not offered on Fridays.

In Smith v. Drawbridge, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 175014 (WD OK, Oct. 23, 2017), an Oklahoma federal district court adopted a magistrate’s recommendation (2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 175923,  Sept. 8, 2017) while dismissing a number of claims, allowed an Orthodox Jewish inmate to move ahead with his complaint that the chaplain consistently denied requests for religious accommodation as to food and various religious items and observances.

In Haslett v. Arnold, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 175988 (SD IL, Oct. 24, 2017), an Illinois federal district court allowed a Muslim inmate to move ahead with his complaint that he was not allowed to observe the Ramadan fast.

In Watkins v. Stogner, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 176502 (D NV, Oct. 25, 2017), a Nevada federal magistrate judge recommended dismissing a Muslim inmate’s complaint over the manner in which inmates were permitted to celebrate Eid al-Fitr.

In Trammell v. McDonnell, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 177229 (CD CA, Oct. 25, 2017), a California federal magistrate judge dismissed with leave to amend an inmate’s complaint that during a one week period he was not provided with Ramadan meals or was provided them only after sunrise.

In Saif’ullah v. Cruzen, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 177873  and Smith v. Cruzen, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 178733 (ND CA, Oct. 26, 2017), a California federal district court dismissed inmates’ complaints that on one evening during Ramadan Muslim inmates were interrupted and stopped from completing a congregational prayer session.

In Fisk v. Warren County Sheriff’s Department, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 178128 (ED TN, Oct. 27, 2017), a Tennessee federal district court dismissed with leave to amend an inmate’s claim that he was denied the things he needed to practice his religion, and dismissed his complaint that he was not permitted to attend his mother’s funeral.