Docket 23-1197October Term 2025 (2025–2026)
Damon Landor, Petitioner v. Louisiana Department of Corrections and Public Safety, et al.
An inmate sues individual prison officials over forced head-shaving that violated his Rastafarian religious practices. The case tests the scope of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) and whether inmates can sue individual officials for monetary damages.
Case overview
- Dispute
- An inmate sues individual prison officials over forced head-shaving that violated his Rastafarian religious practices. The case tests the scope of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) and whether inmates can sue individual officials for monetary damages.
- Issue
- The Court is deciding whether rLUIPA permits suits for monetary damages against state officials in their individual capacities..
- Current posture
- Argued Nov 10, 2025.
Question
Question presented
Whether RLUIPA permits suits for monetary damages against state officials in their individual capacities.
Plain English
The Court is deciding whether rLUIPA permits suits for monetary damages against state officials in their individual capacities..
Procedural posture
Case Accepted
Arguments HeardNov 10, 2025
Decision ReleasedUpcoming
- Originating court
- United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- Supreme Court review
- Awaiting Decision
- Argument
- Held Nov 10, 2025
- Opinion
- Not released
Who is watching
- Legal area
- Religious Liberty
- Institutional path
- United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit decision under Supreme Court review
- What changes next
- The next public milestone is the Court's disposition.
- Term context
- Awaiting Decision in October Term 2025 (2025–2026)
Source trail
Primary materials plus reporting.
Plain-English explainer. Court records remain authoritative. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
MethodologyRefreshed May 17, 2026.
Primary materials
Context reporting
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