SCOTUS narrows damages route in Rastafari dreadlocks case

The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that Damon Landor cannot pursue damages under RLUIPA against individual Louisiana prison officials who shaved his dreadlocks, limiting the law’s reach to cases involving state or local actions and not claims against individual officials. Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote the majority that RLUIPA does not permit suits against non-consenting officials, while Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented, arguing the decision undermines prisoners’ religious rights. The 2020 incident at Raymond Laborde Correctional Center involved officials handcuffing Landor and shaving his head despite his Nazirite vow and religious objections, with the state noting policy changes to prevent similar issues for Rastafari prisoners.