Damon Landor, Petitioner v. Louisiana Department of Corrections and Public Safety, et al.

The case asked whether RLUIPA lets a person seek money damages from state officials sued personally. The Court said yes, in a case brought by an inmate who said forced head-shaving violated his Rastafarian religious practice.

The prompt shows the Court decided that RLUIPA permits damages suits against state officials sued personally, but it does not provide the vote count or opinion lineup.

Majority

Gorsuch

Roberts

Thomas

Alito

Kavanaugh

Barrett

Dissent

Jackson

Sotomayor

Kagan

This means prisoners bringing RLUIPA religious-exercise claims can seek money damages from individual state officials, not just challenge a policy in the abstract. For example, a prisoner who says officers forced him to shave against his faith can pursue damages from those officials personally.

Lower courts now must apply this reading of RLUIPA in pending and future cases. Corrections agencies may review grooming and religious-accommodation policies and staff training because individual officers can face damages claims.

The Court said RLUIPA lets a person sue a state official in an individual capacity for money damages. The case arose from forced head-shaving that conflicted with Rastafarian practice.

Prisoners bringing RLUIPA claims can now seek money damages from individual state officials. Prison staff and agencies may need new training on religious-accommodation rules.

Lower courts must apply the Supreme Court's reading of RLUIPA in pending and future cases. Prisons and corrections agencies may review grooming and religious-accommodation policies to reduce liability.