US top court says Rastafarian man cannot sue prison guards who cut his dreadlocks

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on June 10, 2024, that a Rastafarian man cannot sue prison guards who forcibly cut off his dreadlocks, citing the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA).

The plaintiff, identified as "R.J.", alleged that prison officials in North Carolina violated his religious freedom by shaving his head in 2018, despite his adherence to Rastafarian beliefs that prohibit cutting hair. He sought to sue the guards for damages under RLUIPA, which protects the religious exercise of prisoners.

However, the Supreme Court's majority opinion, delivered by Justice Clarence Thomas, stated that RLUIPA does not create a private right of action allowing individuals to sue government officials for damages. The ruling affirmed a lower court's decision that dismissed the lawsuit. Justice Sonia Sotomayor, in a dissenting opinion, argued that the majority's interpretation of RLUIPA would significantly weaken protections for religious freedom within correctional facilities.