BOOKER v. ENGELKE GCC GCC GCC GCC (2020)

Walter Delaney Booker, Jr., appeals the district court's orders granting Defendants’ motions for summary judgment in Booker's action filed pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc to 2000cc-5. After reviewing the record, we are satisified that, even assuming the Defendants’ policies substantially burdened Booker's free exercise rights under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act and the First Amendment, the policies were reasonably related to the prison's legitimate penological interests in balancing inmates’ religious dietary restrictions with the agency's operational, budgetary, and administrative concerns, and so affirm on that basis. On all other claims, we affirm for the reasons stated by the district court. Booker v. Engelke, No. 7:16-cv-00084-JLK-RSB, 2018 WL 1439604, 2019 WL 1372165 (W.D. Va., Mar. 22, 2018 & Mar. 26, 2019). We further deny Booker's motion for injunctive relief pending appeal. We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before this court and argument would not aid the decisional process.

AFFIRMED

PER CURIAM:

Affirmed by unpublished per curiam opinion. Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.