U.S. appeals court: religion.McEachin v. McGuinnis, 357 F.3d 197 (2nd Cir. 2004). A prisoner, proceeding in forma pauperis [Latin, In the character or manner of a pauper.] A phrase that indicates the permission given by a court to an indigent to initiate a legal action without having to pay for court fees or costs due to his or her lack of financial resources. , brought a civil rights complaint against prison officials. The district court dismissed the action under the screening provisions of the Prison Litigation An action brought in court to enforce a particular right. The act or process of bringing a lawsuit in and of itself; a judicial contest; any dispute. When a person begins a civil lawsuit, the person enters into a process called litigation. Reform Act (PLRA PLRA Partido Liberal Radical Autentico (Paraguay) PLRA Prison Litigation Reform Act of 1995 ). The prisoner appealed, and the appeals court affirmed in part, reversed in part and remanded. The court held that the screening provisions of PLRA did not warrant sua sponte dismissal of free exercise claims involving the prisoner's placement on a restricted diet as a disciplinary measure, which deprived him of blessed food for his Ramadan observance. The inmate also alleged that the disciplinary action was the product of religious discrimination, because an officer issued an order that he knew the prisoner would not obey until after he finished his prayer. (Southport Correctional Facility The Southport Correctional Facility is an ultra-maximum-security, or "supermax," prison in New York State, USA. It is located in the town of Southport, New York, in upstate Chemung County. , New York) |
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