Charles v. Verhagen.

• Position: Violation of civil rights, Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 - Brief Article

U.S. Appeals Court

RLUIPA -- Religious Land Use & Institutionalized Persons Act

Charles v. Verhagen, 348 F.3d 601 (7th Cir. 2003). A Muslim inmate sued state prison officials alleging violations of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) and the First Amendment. The district court granted summary judgment for the officials on the First Amendment claims and on a prayer feast RLUIPA claim. But the district court ruled that the officials' refusal to allow the inmate to possess prayer oil violated RLUIPA. After intervention by the United States, the constitutionality of RLUIPA was upheld. The officials appealed and the appeals court affirmed. The appeals...