Rastafari Haircut Lawsuit Barred

The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that Damon Landor, a former Louisiana inmate and devout Rastafarian, cannot seek money damages from prison officials who forcibly shaved off his dreadlocks in violation of his religious beliefs. The conservative majority, in an opinion by Justice Neil Gorsuch, said the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act does not authorize damages suits against individual state officials, even when prison authorities violate an inmate’s religious rights. The justices condemned the treatment Landor described, including guards disregarding his objections and a prior ruling protecting Rastafarian hair practices, but held that Congress had not clearly created the remedy he sought. The decision leaves Landor without damages under that statute and narrows accountability options for incarcerated people whose religious exercise is violated in state custody.