Document Type
Brief
Publication Date
6-6-2022
Abstract
No. 21-1405
Lester J. Smith v. Timothy Ward
On Petition for Writ of Certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
From the Summary of Argument
Lester Smith comes to this Court in unusual circumstances: the district court found that the Georgia Department of Corrections offered no rationale that could justify its prohibition on beards longer than half an inch under RLUIPA, and yet— without disputing that finding—the Eleventh Circuit ruled that the State may still enforce the half-inch limitation against Smith. The Eleventh Circuit’s denial of any relief from what has been shown to be an unlawful burden on Smith’s religious exercise defies the text of RLUIPA, contradicts this Court’s precedents, conflicts with the approach of other federal circuits, and contravenes basic principles of judicial remedies.
Recommended Citation
Meiser, John A.; Garnett, Nicole Stelle; Garnett, Richard W. IV; and Matozzo, Francesca Genova, "Brief of Amicus Curiae Religious Freedom Institute in Support of Petitioner" (2022). Court Briefs. 34.
https://scholarship.law.nd.edu/sct_briefs/34
Comments
The Religious Freedom Institute (RFI) is committed to achieving broad acceptance of religious liberty as a fundamental human right, a source of individual and social flourishing, the cornerstone of a successful society, and a driver of national and international security. RFI works to make religious freedom a priority for government, civil society, religious communities, businesses, and the general public.