Opinion ID: 2600089
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: Cosco's Right to Practice his Religion

Text: [¶ 20] This Court has always recognized that freedom of religion is a fundamental right. Reiter v. State, 2001 WY 116, ¶ 7, 36 P.3d 586, 589 (Wyo.2001). Wyo. Const. art. 1, § 18 provides: § 18. Religious liberty. The free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship without discrimination or preference shall be forever guaranteed in this state, and no person shall be rendered incompetent to hold any office of trust or profit, or to serve as a witness or juror, because of his opinion on any matter of religious belief whatever; but the liberty of conscience hereby secured shall not be so construed as to excuse acts of licentiousness or justify practices inconsistent with the peace or safety of the state. [¶ 21] Wyo. Const. art. 21, § 25 provides: § 25. Religious liberty. Perfect toleration of religious sentiment shall be secured, and no inhabitant of this state shall ever be molested in person or property on account of his or her mode of religious worship. [¶ 22] However, the religious practices of inmates may be limited. See 60 Am.Jur.2d Penal and Correctional Institutions, §§ 37-46 (2003 and Supp.2009). We decline to address Cosco's assertions that his religious liberties have been violated by the DOC and the WSP. Those assertions are supported by the barest of allegations that articles he claimed to be of religious significance to him were intentionally destroyed, misplaced, or lost by the WSP and DOC. His pleadings contain no averments that he has, because of these circumstances, been deprived of the right to otherwise freely pursue his religious beliefs, or that the destruction, misplacement, or loss of the religious articles at issue was designed to frustrate his right to freely practice his religion, within the limitations rightfully imposed by the DOC and WSP for the safety and security of DOC staff and other inmates in the charge of the DOC.