Holt v. Hobbs
| Docket No. | Op. Below | Argument | Opinion | Vote | Author | Term |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13-6827 | 8th Cir. | Oct 7, 2014 | Jan 20, 2015 | 9-0 | Alito | OT 2014 |
Holding: An Arkansas prison policy that prevents a Muslim prisoner from growing a half-inch beard in accordance with his religious beliefs violates the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act.
Judgment: Reversed and remanded, 9-0, in an opinion by Justice Alito on January 20, 2015. Justice Ginsburg filed a concurring opinion, in which Justice Sotomayor joined. Justice Sotomayor also filed a concurring opinion.
SCOTUSblog Coverage
- A unanimous Supreme Court endorses religious liberties in prison: In Plain English (Amy Howe, January 20, 2015)
- Beard ban under fire: In Plain English (Amy Howe, October 7, 2014)
- Argument report: Trouble at the lectern (Lyle Denniston, October 7, 2014)
- Shave and a haircut: Prisoner grooming and RLUIPA (Video) (Kali Borkoski, October 5, 2014)
- Court to consider prison beard ban: In Plain English (Amy Howe, October 3, 2014)
| Date | Proceedings and Orders |
|---|---|
| Sep 27 2013 | Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due November 12, 2013) |
| Oct 11 2013 | Application (13A374) for an injunction pending disposition of the petition for a writ of certiorari, submitted to Justice Alito. |
| Oct 16 2013 | Response to application (13A374) requested by Justice Alito. (Due Thursday, October 24, 2013, by 4 p.m. EDT.) |
| Oct 24 2013 | Response to application from respondent Ray Hobbs, Director, Arkansas Department of Correction, et al. filed. |
| Oct 29 2013 | Waiver of right of respondents Ray Hobbs, Director, Arkansas Department of Correction, et al. to respond filed. |
| Oct 31 2013 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of November 15, 2013. |
| Nov 1 2013 | Response Requested . (Due December 2, 2013) |
| Nov 14 2013 | Application (13A374) referred to the Court. |
| Nov 14 2013 | Application (13A374) granted by the Court. The application for an injunction submitted to Justice Alito and by him referred to the Court is granted pending disposition of applicants petition for a writ of certiorari. Respondents are enjoined from enforcing the Arkansas Department of Corrections grooming policy to the extent that it prohibits applicant from growing a one-half-inch beard in accordance with his religious beliefs. If the Court denies the petition for a writ of certiorari, this order shall terminate automatically. If the Court grants the petition for a writ of certiorari, this order shall terminate when the Court enters its judgment. |
| Nov 21 2013 | Order extending time to file response to petition to and including January 16, 2014. |
| Jan 3 2014 | Supplemental brief of petitioner Gregory Houston Holt, aka Abdul Maalik Muhammad filed. |
| Jan 16 2014 | Brief of respondents Ray Hobbs, Director, Arkansas Department of Correction, et al. in opposition filed. |
| Jan 30 2014 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of February 21, 2014. |
| Feb 4 2014 | Reply of petitioner Gregory Houston Holt, aka Abdul Maalik Muhammad filed. (Distributed) |
| Feb 24 2014 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of February 28, 2014. |
| Mar 3 2014 | Motion to proceed in forma pauperis and petition for a writ of certiorari GRANTED. |
| Mar 3 2014 | The order granting the petition for a writ of certiorari is amended as follows: The motion of petitioner for leave to proceed in forma pauperis is granted. The petition for a writ of certiorari is granted limited to the following question: Whether the Arkansas Department of Corrections grooming policy violates the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000, 42 U. S. C. §2000cc et seq., to the extent that it prohibits petitioner from growing a one-half-inch beard in accordance with his religious beliefs. |
| Apr 1 2014 | The time to file the joint appendix and petitioner's brief on the merits is extended to and including May 22, 2014. |
| Apr 1 2014 | The time to file respondents' brief on the merits is extended to and including July 23, 2014. |
| Apr 15 2014 | Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs, in support of either party or of neither party, received from counsel for the respondents. |
| Apr 21 2014 | Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs, in support of either party or of neither party, received from counsel for the petitioners. |
| Apr 23 2014 | Joint appendix filed. (Statement of costs filed) |
| May 22 2014 | Brief of petitioner Gregory Houston Holt, aka Abdul Maalik Muhammad filed. |
| May 29 2014 | Brief amicus curiae of the United States filed. |
| May 29 2014 | Brief amici curiae of Anti-Defamation League, et al. filed. |
| May 29 2014 | Brief amici curiae of American Jewish Committee, et al. filed. |
| May 29 2014 | Brief amici curiae of Former Corrections Officials John Clark, et al. filed. |
| May 29 2014 | Brief amici curiae of Former Prison Wardens filed. |
| May 29 2014 | Brief amicus curiae of Americans United for Separation of Church and State filed. |
| May 29 2014 | Brief amicus curiae of Alliance Defending Freedom filed. |
| May 29 2014 | Brief amici curiae of National Congress of American Indians and Huy filed. |
| May 29 2014 | Brief amici curiae of National Jewish Commission on Law and Public Affairs, et al. filed. |
| May 29 2014 | Brief amici curiae of The Sikh Coalition and Muslim Public Affairs Council filed. |
| May 29 2014 | Brief amici curiae of Prison Fellowship Ministries, et al. filed. |
| May 29 2014 | Brief amici curiae of Dr. Ronald L. Akers, et al. filed. |
| May 29 2014 | Brief amici curiae of International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, et al. filed. |
| May 29 2014 | Brief amici curiae of Islamic Law Scholars filed. |
| May 29 2014 | Brief amicus curiae of Women's Prison Association filed. |
| May 29 2014 | Brief amicus curiae of The Rutherford Institute filed. |
| May 29 2014 | Brief amici curiae of Reformed Prisoners Jesse Wiese, et al. filed. |
| Jun 9 2014 | Motion of the Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument filed. |
| Jul 9 2014 | Record requested from U.S.C.A. 8th Circuit. |
| Jul 16 2014 | SET FOR ARGUMENT ON Tuesday, October 7, 2014 |
| Jul 23 2014 | Brief of respondents Ray Hobbs, Director, Arkansas Department of Correction, et al. filed. |
| Jul 30 2014 | Brief amici curiae of Alabama, et al. filed. |
| Aug 7 2014 | CIRCULATED. |
| Aug 13 2014 | Record received from U.S.C.A. 8th Circuit. 1-Envelope. The full record is located on PACER. |
| Aug 15 2014 | Record received from U.S.D.C. Eastern District of Arkansas Pine Bluff Division, 1 Envelope. |
| Aug 22 2014 | Reply of petitioner Gregory Houston Holt, aka Abdul Maalik Muhammad filed. (Distributed) |
| Aug 22 2014 | Proposal to lodge copies of two exhibits from an evidentiary hearing before the magistrate from counsel for petitioner. |
| Aug 22 2014 | Proposal to lodge copies of responsive documents to extra-record representations made in respondents' brief on the merits from counsel for the petitioner. |
| Aug 26 2014 | Letter from counsel for respondents in response to petitioner's lodging proposals. |
| Aug 29 2014 | Motion of the Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument GRANTED. |
| Oct 7 2014 | Argued. For petitioner: Douglas Laycock, Charlottesville, Va.; and Anthony A. Yang, Assistant to the Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C. (for United States, as amicus curiae.) For respondents: David A. Curran, Deputy Attorney General, Little Rock, Ark. |
| Jan 20 2015 | Judgment REVERSED and case REMANDED. Alito, J., delivered the opinion for a unanimous Court. Ginsburg, J., filed a concurring opinion, in which Sotomayor, J., joined. Sotomayor, J., filed a concurring opinion. |
| Feb 23 2015 | JUDGMENT ISSUED. |
| Feb 27 2015 | Record returned to U.S.D.C. Eastern District of Arkansas Pine Bluff Division. (1-Envelope). |
| Feb 27 2015 | Record returned to U.S.C.A. 8th Circuit. (1-Envelope). |
