{"id":2508702,"date":"2025-11-10T10:27:01","date_gmt":"2025-11-10T15:27:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/supreme-court-weighs-if-rastafarian-can-bring-claim-against-prison-officials-who-cut-his-dreadlocks\/"},"modified":"2025-11-10T10:28:49","modified_gmt":"2025-11-10T15:28:49","slug":"supreme-court-weighs-if-rastafarian-can-bring-claim-against-prison-officials-who-cut-his-dreadlocks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/supreme-court-weighs-if-rastafarian-can-bring-claim-against-prison-officials-who-cut-his-dreadlocks\/","title":{"rendered":"Supreme Court weighs if Rastafarian can bring claim against prison officials who cut his dreadlocks"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">30<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fsupreme-court-weighs-if-rastafarian-can-bring-claim-against-prison-officials-who-cut-his-dreadlocks%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2508702&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Teh U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear arguments in a case involving Damon Landor, a Rastafarian inmate who sued the Louisiana Department of Corrections after prison officials at Raymond Laborde Correctional Center shaved his dreadlocks. Landor claims that cutting his hair violated his religious freedoms, as Rastafarian beliefs-partly inspired by the Nazirite vow in the Bible-consider dreadlocks a vital expression of devotion and identity. While prisons often require head shaving for health and security reasons, Landor had grown his hair for nearly two decades and had maintained his locks during the first months of incarceration. After being transferred, officials ignored his requests for religious accommodation and forcibly shaved him bald. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/supreme-court-upholds-fda-approval-of-abortion-pill-mifepristone\/\" title=\"... confirms FDA...s approval of the abortion pill mifepristone\">central legal question<\/a> for the Court is whether individuals can sue state prison officials for damages under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) when their religious rights are violated. Louisiana&#8217;s Attorney General argues that the law does not allow suits against state officials in their personal capacities, a position supported by several federal courts. the Supreme court&#8217;s decision will clarify the scope of RLUIPA&#8217;s protections and the ability to seek damages for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-virginia-law-is-a-victory-for-religious-liberty-supporters-say\/\" title=\"New Virginia Law Is a Victory for Religious Liberty, Supporters Say\">religious rights violations<\/a> by government employees.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Supreme Court weighs if Rastafarian can bring claim against prison officials who cut his dreadlocks<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2397596\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/supreme-court\/\"> Supreme Court<\/a> will hear arguments Monday in the case of a Rastafarian man who brought charges against a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/louisiana\/\">Louisiana<\/a> prison for shaving his dreadlocks, accusing <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/prison\/\">correction center<\/a> officials of encroaching on his religious freedoms.<\/p>\n<p>Damon Landor sued the Louisiana Department of Corrections after prison officials at the Raymond Laborde Correctional Center cut his dreadlocks, which are partly inspired by the Nazirite vow described in Numbers 6:5, which instructs those who take the vow to &ldquo;let the locks of the hair of his head grow.&rdquo; When the vow was completed, it was traditional to shave the head at the entrance of the Tabernacle. <\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/supreme-court\/3877607\/presidential-emergency-powers-looming-issue-supreme-court\/\">Presidential emergency powers a looming issue at the Supreme Court<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/supreme-court\/3880390\/trump-tariff-power-founders-supreme-court\/\">Trump bemoans lack of unilateral tariff authority as &#8216;NOT&#8217; what founders had in mind<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/supreme-court\/3879415\/trump-asks-supreme-court-halt-order-issue-full-snap-benefits\/\">Supreme Court grants Trump request to block full SNAP payments with child nutrition funds<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Rastafarians interpret this passage as a spiritual basis for wearing dreadlocks as a symbol of devotion and natural living.<\/p>\n<p>Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has argued that Landor <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.supremecourt.gov\/DocketPDF\/23\/23-1197\/378442\/20251001175639081_23-1197%20Brief%20for%20Respondents.pdf\">cannot sue<\/a> state officials for damages under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000. Several federal courts have ruled in favor of the state.<\/p>\n<p>The Supreme Court is set to determine on Monday whether an individual can sue a government employee for damages due to violations under RLUIPA. The question is not directly about whether the officials were justified in cutting Landor&rsquo;s dreadlocks.<\/p>\n<p>Prisons have historically shaved the heads of inmates to prevent the spread of disease, to prevent contraband from being hidden in one&rsquo;s hair, and to prevent hair-pulling in case of violence.<\/p>\n<p>Landor&rsquo;s attorney has described the incident in court filings, detailing that the inmate had spent nearly two decades growing his hair &ldquo;nearly to his knees,&rdquo; in accordance with Rastafarian tradition. <\/p>\n<p>For the first four months of Landor&rsquo;s five-month prison sentence, he had been able to keep his locks. However, when he was transferred to the Raymond Laborde Correctional Center, prison officials reportedly disregarded Landor&rsquo;s presentation of &ldquo;various legal materials regarding his religious accommodations,&rdquo; and proceeded to cut his hair.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Prison officials threw the decision into the trash, strapped Landor down, and shaved him bald,&rdquo;the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.supremecourt.gov\/DocketPDF\/23\/23-1197\/370936\/20250827152933089_No.%2023-1997%20Landor%20merits%20brief.pdf\">court filing<\/a> reads. &ldquo;In an instant, they stripped him of decades of religious practice at the heart of his identity.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Landor, through his counsel, argues that the Supreme Court should interpret RLUIPA to cover his right to vindicate his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/federal-workers-u-s-service-members-sue-biden-admin-over-vaccine-mandates\/\" title=\"Federal Workers, U.S. Service Members Sue Biden Admin Over Vaccine Mandates\">religious freedom protections<\/a> through damages claims made against state officials.<\/p>\n<p>Murrill, in contrast, argues that state officials cannot be sued in their individual capacities under RLUIPA.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/supreme-court\/3877607\/presidential-emergency-powers-looming-issue-supreme-court\/\">PRESIDENTIAL EMERGENCY POWERS A LOOMING ISSUE AT THE SUPREME COURT<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Congress did not unambiguously permit suits against officials in their personal capacities, much less suits for damages,&rdquo; the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >state attorney general&#038;rsquo<\/a>;s office wrote in a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.supremecourt.gov\/DocketPDF\/23\/23-1197\/378442\/20251001175639081_23-1197%20Brief%20for%20Respondents.pdf\">court filing<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The Supreme Court convenes Monday at 10:00 a.m.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Supreme Court to decide if Rastafarian can sue over dreadlocks cut<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3976,"featured_media":2508703,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/AP25247479307704_80e09e.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[66779,66778,32275],"class_list":["post-2508702","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-prison-officials","tag-rastafarian-rights","tag-supreme-court"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/AP25247479307704_80e09e.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2508702","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3976"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2508702"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2508702\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2508706,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2508702\/revisions\/2508706"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2508703"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2508702"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2508702"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2508702"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}