Holt v. Hobbs
The Court Rules That the Arkansas Department of Correction’s Beard Prohibition Violates Federal Law
Holt v. Hobbs was featured in Religious Freedom Behind Bars, Supreme Court Debates (Nov. 2014). The following is excerpted from the summary of the unanimous opinion written by Justice Alito, as prepared by the Court Reporter of Decisions. The Arkansas Department of Correction’s grooming policy violates the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) insofar as it prevents Petitioner from growing a half-inch beard in accordance with his religious beliefs. Under RLUIPA, the challenging party bears the initial burden of proving that his religious exercise is grounded in a sincerely held religious belief and that the government’s action…
