The Supreme Court ruled that a Louisiana inmate, Damon Landau, whose dreadlocks were forcibly shaved by guards, cannot sue for monetary damages under a federal law protecting prisoners’ religious rights. The 6-3 decision highlighted that the law does not permit lawsuits against individual guards for constitutional violations.
Landau, a Rastafarian, had shown authorities a 2017 ruling requiring the Louisiana Department of Corrections to respect his religious practices, but his documents were disregarded. After being forcibly restrained, his hair was shaved. When he sued the guards, the conservative majority ruled that such cases require consent from the individuals being sued. Justice Neil Gorsuch stated that laws under the Constitution’s spending clause are akin to contracts between states and the federal government.
Harvard law professor Noah Feldman expressed concern that this ruling could undermine accountability and weaken various federal laws. The dissenting liberal justices, particularly Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, criticized the majority for compromising individual rights and Congress’s authority.
Landau’s legal team vowed to pursue justice despite the ruling, emphasizing the violation of his faith and dignity.
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