Supreme Court Bars Damages Claim by Rastafarian After Guards Shaved His Dreadlocks, 6-3

The Supreme Court rules 6-3 that Damon Landor cannot seek monetary damages from Louisiana prison officials after guards shaved his knee-length dreadlocks in violation of his Rastafari beliefs.Justice Neil Gorsuch writes the majority opinion, finding that the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act does not authorize damages against state prison officials in this context.Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson dissents, saying denying damages leaves prisoners without effective remedies for religious-rights violations and criticizing the majority's legal reasoning.Landor had raised prior court rulings when he arrived at Raymond Laborde Correctional Center, the 5th Circuit had lamented his treatment, and Louisiana has since amended its grooming policy.
Published:6h |Updated:5h
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