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Page Number: 7.0

4 

HOLT v. HOBBS 

Opinion of the Court 

religion,  whether  or  not  compelled  by,  or  central  to,  a
system  of  religious  belief.”    §2000cc–5(7)(A).    Congress
mandated that this concept “shall be construed in favor of
a  broad  protection  of  religious  exercise,  to  the  maximum 
extent  permitted  by  the  terms  of  this  chapter  and  the 
Constitution.”  §2000cc–3(g).    And  Congress  stated  that
RLUIPA “may require a government to incur expenses in 
its own operations to avoid imposing a substantial burden 
on  religious  exercise.”    §2000cc–3(c).  See  Hobby  Lobby, 
supra, at ___ – ___, ___ (slip op., at 6–7, 43). 

B 
Petitioner,  as  noted,  is  in  the  custody  of  the  Arkansas 
Department  of  Correction  and  he  objects  on  religious 
grounds  to  the  Department’s  grooming  policy,  which  pro-
vides  that  “[n]o  inmates  will  be  permitted  to  wear  facial 
hair other than a neatly trimmed mustache that does not 
extend  beyond  the  corner  of  the  mouth  or  over  the  lip.” 
App.  to  Brief  for  Petitioner  11a.    The  policy  makes  no
exception for inmates who object on religious grounds, but
it  does  contain  an  exemption  for  prisoners  with  medical
needs:  “Medical  staff  may  prescribe  that  inmates  with  a 
diagnosed dermatological problem may wear facial hair no
longer  than  one  quarter  of  an  inch.”    Ibid.    The  policy 
provides  that  “[f]ailure  to  abide  by  [the  Department’s]
grooming  standards  is  grounds  for  disciplinary  action.” 
Id., at 12a. 

Petitioner  sought  permission  to  grow  a  beard  and,  al-
though he believes that his faith requires him not to trim
his beard at all, he proposed a “compromise” under which
he  would  grow  only  a  1⁄2-inch  beard.    App.  164.    Prison 
officials  denied  his  request,  and  the  warden  told  him:
“[Y]ou will abide by [Arkansas Department of Correction] 
policies  and  if  you  choose  to  disobey,  you  can  suffer  the 
consequences.”    No.  5:11–cv–00164  (ED  Ark.,  July  21,
2011),  Doc.  13,  p.  6  (Letter  from  Gaylon  Lay  to  Gregory