On June 23, 2026, the Supreme Court denied a lawsuit filed by Damon Landor, a Rastafarian man, against prison officials for cutting his dreadlocks, which he claimed violated his religious beliefs. The Court ruled 6-3 that Landor could not sue under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) because the law does not allow for damages in such cases. Justice Neil Gorsuch, writing for the majority, stated that Congress did not authorize lawsuits against prison officials under RLUIPA, emphasizing that the officials had not consented to such legal actions. The dissent, authored by Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson and joined by Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan, argued that the RLUIPA does impose damages liability and criticized the majority's interpretation of the law. The Supreme Court has several pending opinions to issue this term, with upcoming rulings expected soon.
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Supreme Court rules against Rastafarian man's lawsuit regarding dreadlocks
The Supreme Court denied a Rastafarian man's lawsuit against prison officials for cutting his dreadlocks, ruling that he could not sue under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act. The 6-3 decision, led by Justice Neil Gorsuch, stated that the law does not permit damages in such cases, while the dissent argued for the opposite interpretation. Upcoming rulings from the Court are expected soon.
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Supreme Court denies Rastafarian’s lawsuit against prison officials for cutting his dreadlocks
Supreme Court rules against Rastafarian man's lawsuit regarding dreadlocks