Supreme Court rules against Rastafarian man over religious rights claim against prison officials

The Supreme Court ruled in the case of a devout Rastafarian who sought damages after Louisiana prison officials cut his dreadlocks in violation of his religious beliefs.

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled against a devout Rastafarian who sought damages after Louisiana prison officials cut his dreadlocks despite his claim that it violated his religious rights.

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The court ruled 6-3 that Damon Landor cannot seek damages under a law called the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, or RLUIPA. The court was divided along ideological lines, with conservatives in the majority and liberals dissenting.

The ruling saw the conservative majority depart from its regular support for religious claims, although recent high-profile wins tended to involve conservative Christians.