The Supreme Court will consider on Monday whether a Rastafarian man can seek monetary damages from Louisiana prison officials who forcibly cut his dreadlocks during his 2020 incarceration. Damon Landor had presented guards at Raymond Laborde Correctional Center with a 2017 court ruling protecting his religious right to maintain long hair, but officials discarded the document before restraining and shaving him.
Lower courts acknowledged the violation was egregious, yet ruled existing precedent bars lawsuits against state officials for such religious freedom infractions under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act. Landor's attorneys argue the statute permits damage claims similar to a 2020 Supreme Court decision involving federal officials, while Louisiana contends the legal frameworks differ meaningfully.
The Trump administration supports allowing the case to proceed. Landor, whose dreadlocks had grown nearly to his knees over two decades, is regrowing his hair and plans to attend oral arguments.
Lower courts acknowledged the violation was egregious, yet ruled existing precedent bars lawsuits against state officials for such religious freedom infractions under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act. Landor's attorneys argue the statute permits damage claims similar to a 2020 Supreme Court decision involving federal officials, while Louisiana contends the legal frameworks differ meaningfully.
The Trump administration supports allowing the case to proceed. Landor, whose dreadlocks had grown nearly to his knees over two decades, is regrowing his hair and plans to attend oral arguments.
