Opinion ID: 741863
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Denial of Jackson-Bey's Request for Religious Accommodation

Text: 16 The events underlying the present action began in late February of 1995, when Jackson-Bey was notified of his father's death and granted permission to attend the funeral services. On February 22, 1995, Hajji H.A. Muhammad, an Islamic Chaplain at Woodbourne, wrote a memorandum advising the watch commander, defendant Lieutenant Jones, that Jackson-Bey was for religious/ SPIRITUAL REASONS permitted to attend memorial services (for his father) in the attire prescribed by his religious order, MST, including white garments and a red fez. Religious Advice on Funeral Trip of Travis Jackson, Mem. dated Feb. 22, 1995. 17 Because Jackson-Bey was not registered as a member of the MST on Woodbourne facility records, defendants did not allow Jackson-Bey to wear the religious clothing prescribed by the MST faith; instead, they required him to wear state-issued western style clothing to the funeral pursuant to DOCS Directive No. 4901. Believing that by not wearing white garments and the red fez, he would disgrace his father's memory and betray his MST faith, Jackson-Bey chose not to attend the funeral. He was thus unable to fulfill his religious obligation to perform a final prayer at his father's memorial service. 18 Following this incident, Jackson-Bey filed an administrative grievance claiming a denial of his religious rights and seeking [a] written formal apology, as well as facility and departmental respect and recognition of the Islamic sects. Inmate Grievance Complaint dated Feb. 24, 1995, No. WB 8/28/95, Woodbourne Correctional Facility. Defendant Lieutenant Jones responded to the grievance by simply stating that pursuant to DOCS Directive No. 4901, all inmates are required to wear state-issued civilian clothing to funeral services. Inmate Grievance Program, Investigative Report Form. 19 On March 6, 1995, Jackson-Bey, acting pro se, filed the present action against the defendant prison officials under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, claiming that the defendants violated the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment when they denied him permission to wear the MST prescribed clothing to his father's funeral. Jackson-Bey further asserted that the funeral incident was part of a pattern at Woodbourne of religious suppression that included denying MST members permission to worship in congregations or to have study classes. 20 On August 1, 1995, Jackson-Bey filed a motion for a preliminary injunction to enjoin the defendants from interfering with the exercise of the MST religion at Woodbourne and from retaliating against MST members for filing suit. In response, defendant Hanslmaier claimed in an affidavit that Jackson-Bey lacked standing to file his action. Hanslmaier stated that Jackson-Bey was registered as a member of the Muslim religion and has refused to change his registration to Moorish Science Temple (when asked directly by the facility Senior Chaplain) as required by Department Directive. Aff. of Robert L. Hanslmaier dated Aug. 16, 1995 (No. 95 Civ. 2349(CSH)). In reply, Jackson-Bey replied with an affidavit stating that he had never been asked by the Senior Chaplain to change his religious registration. Aff. of Travis Jackson-Bey dated Aug. 31, 1995 (No. 95 Civ. 2349(CSH)). Reverend Fields subsequently filed an affidavit admitting that Jackson-Bey had made overtures to [him] concerning the Moorish Science Temple ... religion. Fields Aff. However, Reverend Fields stated that while he asked Jackson-Bey both in 1994 and again in 1995, if he wished to change his religious preference on facility records, id., Jackson-Bey did not do so. 21 On December 7, 1995, the district court ordered the parties to brief the issue of Jackson-Bey's standing to bring the present action. They did so, and on April 11, 1996, the district court dismissed Jackson-Bey's complaint on the ground that because he had failed to register as a member of MST, he lacked standing to bring this suit. Jackson-Bey v. Hanslmaier, No. 95 Civ. 2349(CSH), 1996 WL 173156 (S.D.N.Y. Apr.11, 1996). Jackson-Bey appeals from this dismissal.