United States First Circuit

In suit arising out of a prison's refusal to let an inmate preach to his fellow inmates, summary judgment for the defendants is reversed and remanded where: 1) the prisoner had demonstrated that his religious exercise was substantially burdened; and 2) defendants' conclusory statements that the regulation was required for safety reasons did not demonstrate for summary judgment purposes that the rule was the least restrictive means of achieving a compelling governmental interest.

Appellate Information

• Decided 04/06/2007
• Published 04/06/2007

Judges

• TORRUELLA, Circuit Judge., Before TORRUELLA, LYNCH, and LIPEZ, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States First Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Lynette Labinger, with whom Roney & Labinger LLP Cooperating Counsel, Rhode Island Affiliate, American Civil Liberties Union, was on brief, for appellant.


• For Appellees:
  
• Patricia A. Coyne-Fague, Chief Legal Counsel, Rhode Island Department of Corrections, was on brief, for appellee.