U.S. Appeals Court: RACIAL DISCRIM. RELIGION.

Morrison v. Garraghty, 239 F.3d 648(4th Cir. 2001). An inmate sued prison officials under [ss] 1983 alleging violation of his equal protection rights because of their refusal to consider his request to obtain Native American religious items because he was not of Native American heritage. The district court enjoined officials from refusing to consider the inmate's request solely on the basis that he was not of the Native American race, and the officials appealed. The appeals court affirmed, finding that the officials' refusal violated the equal protection clause. The court noted that the inmate's claim involved the right to be treated the...