The U.S. Supreme Court is considering whether a Louisiana inmate can sue prison officials for forcing him to shave his dreadlocks, violating his religious beliefs.
According to a report from THE WASHINGTON TIMES, the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday heard arguments in a case involving Damon Landor, a Louisiana inmate who said prison guards violated his religious rights by forcing him to shave his dreadlocks. Landor, a Rastafarian, claimed the act violated his “Nazarite Vow,” a sacred belief in his faith.
Landor reported to Raymond Laborde Correctional Facility in 2020 carrying a federal court ruling that previously upheld his right to keep his hair under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA). Guards reportedly ignored the order, handcuffed him, and shaved his head.
“It is undisputed that my client has alleged an assault that is just brazenly illegal,” said Landor’s lawyer, Zachary Tripp. Justice Elena Kagan appeared open to allowing Landor to sue, while Justice Neil Gorsuch questioned broader implications if such lawsuits were permitted.
Louisiana Solicitor General J. Benjamin Aguinaga argued that Congress, not the court, should decide whether inmates can collect damages under RLUIPA.
The case, Damon Landor v. Louisiana Department of Corrections and Public Safety, could clarify the scope of inmates’ religious rights. A decision is expected by June.