SCOTUS RLUIPA Ruling Seen as Favoring Conservative Christians
TL;DR
In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that Damon Landor, a Rastafarian, could not sue Louisiana prison guards for forcibly shaving his dreadlocks under RLUIPA, limiting damages against individual officials and prompting Justice Jackson’s dissent that the ruling twists the statute and erodes rights for non-Christians; TPM frames the decision as part of a broader pattern of religious exemptions that have increasingly favored conservative Christian interests, dating back to Hobby Lobby and continuing alongside other political developments.
- At SCOTUS, Once Again, Religious Rights Are Only for Conservative Christians Talking Points Memo
- Supreme Court Bars Rastafarian Man From Suing Prison Guards for Shaving His Dreadlocks The New York Times
- Supreme Court rules Rastafari man can’t sue Louisiana prison officials who cut his dreadlocks AP News
- Neil Gorsuch Just Took a Wrecking Ball to a Major Religious Liberty Law Slate Magazine
- A Rastafarian prisoner cannot sue guards who shaved his locks The Economist
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