Court Opinion

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Date Created: 2015-10-13 22:19:22.9278+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:10:52.067132
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Opinions of the United
2006 Decisions                                                                                                             States Court of Appeals
                                                                                                                              for the Third Circuit

11-16-2006

Ali v. Stickman
Precedential or Non-Precedential: Non-Precedential

Docket No. 04-2653

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Recommended Citation
"Ali v. Stickman" (2006). 2006 Decisions. Paper 202.
http://digitalcommons.law.villanova.edu/thirdcircuit_2006/202

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                                                    NOT PRECEDENTIAL

             UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                  FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT

                            No. 04-2653

                     IMANUEL BASSIL ALI,
                                   Appellant

                                 v.

     WILLIAM STICKMAN, Superintendent; CONNER BLAINE,
    Former Superint.; SHARON D'ELETTO, Grievance Coordinator;
    BEN ANSELL; KERRI CROSS, Disciplinary Hearing Examiner;
    M. J. MATTHEWS, Disciplinary Hearing Examiner; KENNETH
WARMAN; MICHAEL MAHLMEISTER; KEN MILLER, Unit Manager;
    DAVID DAY, Unit Manager; C/O MOORE; C/O KERBY, SGT.;
      C/O GOODMAN, Correction Officer/Guard; LT. LEGGET,
  Correctional Officer/Guard; MICHAEL SMITH, Activities Manager;
    BONNEY HIGGINS, Chaplain Assistant; THOMAS JACKSON,
    Deputy Superint. of Centralize Service; DAN DAVIS, Release of
 Information Coordinator; F. BARNES, Counselor; JEFFREY BEARD,
 Secretary of Corrections; ROBERT BITNER, Chief Hearing Examiner;
            THOMAS JAMES, Chief Grievance Coordinator

           On Appeal From the United States District Court
              For the Western District of Pennsylvania
                     (D.C. Civ. No. 03-cv-00516)
           District Judge: Honorable Donetta W. Ambrose

             Submitted Under Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a)
                         October 11, 2006

         Before: Barry, Chagares and Cowen, Circuit Judges.

                     (Filed: November 16, 2006)
                                        OPINION

PER CURIAM

       In 1983, Appellant legally changed his name from Emanuel Lester to Imanuel

Bassil Ali (hereinafter his “legal name”). However, in 1990, he was prosecuted and

committed to prison as Emmanuel Lester, and, since 1995, when he was transferred to

serve his capital sentence at the State Correctional Institution at Greene (“SCI-Greene”),

he has been required to use the name Emmanuel Lester (hereinafter Ali’s “commitment

name”).

       In 2003, Ali sued multiple defendants associated with SCI-Greene. He claimed

that he faced reprisals for using his legal name, including misconduct write-ups and

subsequent severe disciplinary sanctions. He also alleged that he has faced discipline for

using the prison grievance procedures under his legal name to complain of prison

conditions and physical assaults, and that his grievances have not been accepted because

he submitted them in his legal name. Defendants moved for summary judgment, which

the District Court granted on May 20, 2004, by adopting the recommendation of a

                                             2
Magistrate Judge.1 Ali appeals.2

       We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We exercise plenary review

over the District Court’s grant of summary judgment. See Abramson v. William Paterson

College, 260 F.3d 265, 276 (3d Cir. 2001). Upon review, we conclude that Ali’s claims

of retaliation fail because he did not engage in a protected activity. Accordingly, we will

affirm the District Court’s judgment. See Erie Telecomms. v. Erie, 853 F.2d 1084, 1089

(3d Cir. 1988) (holding that we may affirm on an alternative basis supported by the

record).

       Ali alleged retaliation for the exercise of a First Amendment right. Therefore, he

   1
     In the Report & Recommendation, the Magistrate Judge split Ali’s claims into two
and characterized them differently than we do. Defining the first claim as an allegation
that Ali’s rights were violated by Defendants’ requirement that he use his commitment
name in conjunction with what the Magistrate Judge characterized as Ali’s religious name
on all prison documents, the Magistrate Judge determined that Ali could not state a claim
on such a basis. The Magistrate Judge noted that “courts have consistently recognized
that although an inmate might have the right to utilize his Muslim name, such name at the
least must appear in conjunction with the name under which he has been committed and
that prison officials have the right to require an inmate to utilize his committed name on
all prison matters.” (Report & Recommendation at 3-4.) The Magistrate Judge
concluded that Ali could not succeed on the second claim, that he had been assaulted by
guards and been denied the right to participate in the inmate grievance procedure because
he refused to use his commitment name. Specifically, the Magistrate Judge determined
that Defendants had not retaliated against him for exercising a protected right but instead
disciplined him or rejected his grievances because he had refused to use his commitment
name. (Report & Recommendation at 4-5.)
   2
     Originally, Ali also appealed from an earlier order issued on May 14, 2004, in which
the District Court denied Ali’s appeal from the Magistrate Judge’s denial of Ali’s motion
for leave to file a supplemental complaint. However, Ali has since decided not to pursue
an appeal of the order of May 14, 2004. (Appellant’s brief at “1-6.”)

                                             3
first must prove that the conduct that led to the alleged retaliation was constitutionally

protected. See Rauser v. Horn, 241 F.3d 330, 333 (3d Cir. 2001). The First Amendment

“protects an inmate’s right to legal recognition of an adopted religious name,” Barrett v.

Virginia, 689 F.2d 489, 503 (4th Cir. 1982), and an inmate who has legally adopted a

religious name has an interest in using his legal name with his commitment name,

see Fawaad v. Jones, 81 F.3d 1084, 1086 (11th Cir. 1996) (assuming without deciding

that the interest exists). At least in cases in which an inmate changes his name after he is

incarcerated, a prison requirement that inmates use their committed names in conjunction

with new religious names is an appropriate accommodation of the competing interests of

the inmate and the prison. See Fawaad, 81 F.3d at 1087; Malik v. Brown, 71 F.3d 724,

729 (9th Cir. 1995).

       However, Ali’s use of his legal name does not implicate the First Amendment.

Ali did not adopt or use a religious name. In the District Court, Ali explained that he

adopted his legal name “to reflect [his] African culture ties and ethnic heritage.” (Ali’s

Pretrial Statement.) Although “Ali” is a traditionally Muslim name, Ali describes it only

as his “true legal surname” or his “true surname.” (Complaint, Appellant’s Brief and

Reply Brief, passim.) Moreover, in his reply brief, Ali specifically disavows that Ali is

his religious name, stating that “Ali is not his religious name.” (Reply at 1.) Ali merely

                                              4
sought to use a name different from the name under which he was committed.3 His

preference is not protected by the First Amendment.4

       In sum, the District Court properly granted summary judgment in favor of

Defendants on Ali’s retaliation claims because Ali did not engage in protected activity.

Accordingly, we will affirm the District Court’s judgment.

   3
     In some instances, Ali used only his legal name and his inmate number. At other
times, Ali may have used his legal name in conjunction with his commitment name and
inmate number. Ali signed his legal name and printed his commitment name and inmate
number on a cell search log. (Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment at Exhibit U.)
Ali appears to have signed his legal name in the “signature block” of grievance forms
even though he also printed his commitment name and his inmate number on the
documents. (Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment at Exhibits C, O, P, Q, S).
Also, Ali seems to have signed his legal name and printed his inmate number next to his
typed commitment name on mail logs. (Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment at
Exhibits F, I, J, L, M, N, R.)
   4
     Ali even concedes that “his religious practices were not violated []or implicated by
the restrictions placed on the use of Ali’s name.” (Reply at 1.)

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