Opinion ID: 510644
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Religious activity conducted without Chaplaincy Department supervision.

Text: 11 Thus, the amended regulation prohibited group inmate activity conducted without supervision of the prison's authorities. 12 Notwithstanding the adoption of the amendment, plaintiffs continued to engage in the Du'a in the yard without authorization and without requesting the supervision of the Chaplaincy Department. When plaintiffs were engaged in the Du'a other inmates stood around watching and were inactive. 13 Because they violated the amended regulation, disciplinary charges were again filed against plaintiffs and all received sanctions ranging from the loss of privileges to loss of commutation credits. Plaintiffs make no challenge to these disciplinary findings and, insofar as appears from the record, did not appeal them to the New Jersey courts. 14 Plaintiffs subsequently brought three separate actions, later consolidated, in the district court charging that the defendants, the prison authorities, had infringed their rights to exercise their religion freely under the First Amendment and had denied them equal protection of the laws under the Fourteenth Amendment. 2 Plaintiffs then moved for an interlocutory injunction while defendants moved for summary judgment. Both motions were denied. Following a nonjury trial, the trial judge, Judge Bissell, reserved decision pending the decision of the Supreme Court on the appeal from our decision in Shabazz v. O'Lone, 782 F.2d 416 (3d Cir.1986). On June 9, 1987 the Supreme Court reversed our decision. --- U.S. ----, 107 S.Ct. 2400, 96 L.Ed.2d 282. Judge Bissell then filed a comprehensive but unreported opinion ruling in favor of defendants and on October 13, 1987 a judgment was entered dismissing plaintiffs' claims. This appeal followed.