Fullwood v. Clemmer

• Jurisdiction: North Carolina

Fullwood v. Clemmer

206 F. Supp. 370 (D.D.C. 1962)

Facts

Fullwood, a District of Columbia jail inmate, alleged that jail policies forbidding Muslims from holding religious services and wearing religious medals violated his First Amendment right to practice the religious belief of his choice. At the time of the lawsuit, District of Columbia jail officials funded Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish religious services at their facilities and allowed Lutherans, Unitarians, and Christian Scientists to voluntarily conduct religious services. The jail authorities considered the Muslims under their control to be a hate group because of their depiction of the white race as evil. They denied Muslims permission to hold religious services because of what they considered to be the inflammatory nature of Muslim teachings.

Issue

Is the Muslim faith, as practiced by black prisoners, a legitimate religion, and if so, what First Amendment religious rights do Muslims have?

Holding

The Muslim prisoners' concept of religion is legitimate and they are to be recognized by the federal courts as a religious group. Furthermore, allowing some religious groups privileges while denying others the same privileges amounts to religious discrimination. The Muslims are to be allowed to hold religious services and wear medals because the District of Columbia jail authorities allow other religious groups to do so.

Reason

In regard to...