CAIR Advocates for Inmates’ Religious Freedom

Should one prisoner’s right to worship be the same as that of a prisoner of a different religion? One would hope so. In reality, equal treatment may not always be the case.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has filed suit in federal court on behalf of Islamic inmates in Maryland prisons who say the prisoners have been denied the right to assemble for worship, while inmates of other religions are afforded this right. The original complaint is available here.

The case just got a green light from the federal court, which allowed the case to proceed. See “CAIR Welcomes Federal Court’s Decision to Allow Suit Challenging Maryland Islam-Specific Prison Policy to Move Forward,” CAIR press release, August 16, 2018. The court’s decision is available here.

According to a press release from CAIR, “As a result of this decision, CAIR lawyers will now have the authority to demand documents and information from Prince George’s County about their unequal treatment of Muslim inmates. CAIR will also be able to depose key officials who created and enforced the Islam-specific prison policy challenged by the lawsuit.”

“Inmates are among the most vulnerable populations of Americans at risk of having their rights violated,” said CAIR Director of Maryland Outreach Zainab Chaudry. “This decision is a critical step in the right direction to help ensure that Muslim prisoners are able to observe their faith free from discrimination.”

CAIR also represents inmates in Alaska and Washington in lawsuits defending the rights of Muslim inmates to practice their faith while in prison. See “Judge Orders Washington Prisons to Serve Ramadan Meals,” by Gene Johnson, Associated Press/The Spokesman-Review, June 11, 2018, and “Judge Orders Alaska Prison to Stop Serving Pork Products to Muslim Inmates,” by Maria Perez, Newsweek, May 25, 2018.

In a past case, the Supreme Court of the United Stats held that prisoners may grow beards for religious purposes, regardless of the prison rules about facial hair. See “Ban on Prison Beards Violates Muslim Rights, Supreme Court Says,” by Adam Liptak, New York Times, January 20, 2015. Will the new case be treated differently by the courts? Stay tuned.

Resources:

CAIR offers several educational toolkits and pocket guides advising about rights, community safety, and religious liberty. CAIR also publishes A Correctional Institution’s Guide to Islamic Religious Practices.

The Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati’s Muslim Mothers Against Violence has produced a Bullying Prevention Guide for parents, schools, and community members.

The Tayba Foundation’s mission is “holistic education and support for incarcerated Muslims.” The site includes podcasts, news, information about volunteer opportunities, and other resources.

Zoukis Prisoner Resources has extensive information for federal inmates and their families, from surviving your first day in prison to finding a job upon release.

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Poetic Justice

Is the U.S. Constitution poetry? Maybe, maybe not. However, we do know that the Preamble is best memorized through song. Moreover, even this English major didn’t quite grasp structure until her Con Law class.

We enjoyed, although did not entirely buy, Q&A: Burt Neuborne on “Madison’s Music,” a Bold New Approach to Interpreting the Constitution, National Book Review (May 2016).

See also the ambitious The U.S. Constitution Is a Poem, (that certainly settles the question), Geoffrey Wessel, Overthinking.com (September 17, 2015).

Is it fiction? Kind of, yes. See Constitutional Law as Fiction: Narrative in the Rhetoric of Authority, Lash Larue, Penn State University Press (1995).

Vacancy

“Justice delayed is justice denied.”

See also: Wikipedia.

Also, someone ought to write an opera. Oh, well, looks like someone already has. However, given recent events, an updated libretto is in order.

Archived Jur-E

Hey! Guess what we found — the archive of most (all?) Jur-E Bulletins from years past. This weekly newsletter on “all things jury” was the precursor of this blog. It was a lot of fun. Thanks to NCSC for putting into their library catalog.

Defunded and Fee-Funded

Connecticut probate courts have been defunded.

That’s right, the legislature will no longer pay for them. Never mind the poor souls who accidentally die in testate, never mind the vulnerable people who are in need of guardianship. Never mind that probate court is supposed to be a public service.

Instead of funding the courts, the legislature raised fees. Thus, the rich (assuming they don’t have enough warning to plan to die elsewhere, and assuming they lack wills) will pay extremely high fees, which supposedly will fund the rest.

This seems to be one decision that will have an adverse effect on both the wealthy and the poor. See Connecticut’s Probate Fee Change Could Drive Out Wealthy, Some Say, Luther Turmelle, New Haven Register (January 4, 2016), and Defunding of Probate Courts Punishes the Poor, Judge Lisa Wexler, Greenwich Time (August 29, 2015). Who’s it good for?

Hail to the Chief Judge

In this day and age, there is a lot we could say about the folks running certain state courts of last resort. Suffice it to say, we will miss the good example set by the pioneering Chief Judge Judith Kaye of New York, who passed away today.

She was smart and innovative, interesting and interested.

Her obituary appears in the New York Times.

Magic 8 Ball

Welcome back! This is our 8th year (if you count the past year, in which we posted nothing, except to our facebook page).

You may notice the new format here on WordPress, and the new url. If you go to the old url, you will be redirected here (thanks, Tom).

Want old posts? We may put a few best-of up here. Otherwise, try to remember a few details and we may be able to dig up the text from our personal archives.

Is there still a need for court-o-rama? That’s a good question, one we’ve asked ourselves over the past year. The answer is yes. Too many blogs highlight wacky cases, while very few look at court administration. However, these two realms overlap all the time — witness the case of former Judge Tracie Hunter, or the internationally (in)famous Kentucky clerk Kim Davis. In both instances, race, sex, and religion trumped boring old court administration facts. Plus, we know you want to hear about haunted courthouses every Halloween, and probate court weddings every Valentine’s Day.

So there you have it. We’re here, we’re back, we’re ready to blog. Send us your stories, feedback, and if the freelance fashion blogger who contacted us (yes, that really happened) has the scoop on judicial robes (why are Maryland’s a different color?), we’d love to know about it.

Test

Oyez, oyez, this is a test. Oyez it is.