United States Fifth Circuit

In a Jewish prisoner's action alleging defendants violated his rights under the constitution and the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) via certain policies, summary judgment for defendants is affirmed where: 1) policies on the availability of religious services and use of a chapel passed constitutional muster; 2) denial of a kosher diet does not violate plaintiff's free exercise rights; 3) for purposes of an equal protection claim, plaintiff failed to show that defendants purposefully discriminated against him; 4) defendants's acts regarding religious services did not place a substantial burden on plaintiff's free exercise of his faith, for RLUIPA purposes; 5) defendants showed the dietary policy of not providing kosher meals was the least restrictive means of furthering a compelling governmental interest; and 6) additional claims of error failed.

Appellate Information

• Decided 05/04/2007
• Published 05/08/2007

Judges

• PRADO, Circuit Judge:, Before HIGGINBOTHAM, WIENER, and PRADO, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Fifth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Thomas H. Baranowski, Huntsville, TX, pro se.


• For Appellees:
  
• Marjolyn Carol Gardner, Asst. Atty. Gen., Austin, TX, for Defendants-Appellees.