Ohio prison chaplain loses gay choir leader fight.A federal appeals court has supported Ohio correctional officials' reprimand REPRIMAND, punishment. The censure which in some cases a public office pronounces against an offender.2. This species of punishment is used by legislative bodies to punish their members or others who have been guilty of some impropriety of conduct towards them. of a prison chaplain Noun 1. prison chaplain - a chaplain in a prison chaplain - a clergyman ministering to some institution who barred a gay inmate INMATE. One who dwells in a part of another's house, the latter dwelling, at the same time, in the said house. Kitch. 45, b; Com. Dig. Justices of the Peace, B 85; 1 B. & Cr. 578; 8 E. C. L. R. 153; 2 Dowl. & Ry. 743; 8 B. & Cr. 71; 15 E. C. L. R. 154; 2 Man. & Ry. 227; 9 B. & Cr. from leading the choir. The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Chaplain CHAPLAIN. A clergyman appointed to say prayers and perform divine service. Each house of congress usually appoints it own chaplain. William Akridge's lawsuit that claimed his First Amendment rights were violated when corrections officials reprimanded him for refusing to allow a gay inmate to lead a choir at religious services. In spring 2002, Akridge became a full-time chaplain at Ohio's Madison Correctional Institution Noun 1. correctional institution - a penal institution maintained by the government detention camp, detention home, detention house, house of detention - an institution where juvenile offenders can be held temporarily (usually under the supervision of a juvenile . Not long after arriving at the post, Akridge was approached by an inmate who wanted to play music during Protestant services. Akridge told the inmate he did not mind the group playing music at the services, as long as the inmates did not play "pagan music." The prisoner then accused Akridge of acting with hostility toward him because he is gay. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. court documents, the chaplain responded, "I didn't know you are gay. But since you tell me you are gay, then that is reason enough for you not to ... lead the band." The inmate filed a complaint with state correctional officials, launching an investigation. The deputy prison warden told Akridge to give the inmate the opportunity to be one of the choir directors. The chaplain refused and was subsequently fined two days' pay. He then voluntarily transferred to another prison. A three-judge panel of the 6th Circuit found that the interests of the corrections officials in upholding non-discrimination policies outweighed any restrictions on Akridge's constitutional rights. (Akridge v Wilkinson) |
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