Supreme Court Limits Religious Freedom Lawsuits

The Supreme Court just ruled that a Rastafarian inmate can’t sue individual prison guards for money damages over being forcibly shaved — even though his faith forbids cutting his dreadlocks. In a 6-3 decision, the Court held that the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) doesn’t authorize lawsuits seeking financial compensation from specific state employees. Justice Gorsuch, writing for the majority, said Congress didn’t clearly authorize such personal lawsuits, even as he acknowledged the seriousness of the claims. The dissent, led by Justice Jackson, warned the ruling weakens religious protections for prisoners and undermines the very purpose of RLUIPA. Meanwhile, Louisiana has updated its prison grooming rules to prevent similar incidents — underscoring the ongoing struggle between institutional control and religious freedom behind bars. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/be268f16ecd7ace5