Example of a preliminary injunction for religious accommodation for food

August 8, 2024 4:21 PM

Where can I view an example of a preliminary injunction for an incarcerated individual demanding a prison to provide food that meets his religious needs? I don't want to find the ruling from the judge, but the filing requesting the preliminary injunction. Halal, kosher, or any other reason why an inmate filed a PI demanding his diet meet his religious requirements are all fine. Thanks!
posted by davidstandaford to Law & Government (5 answers total)

When you refer to "the ruling from the judge," I guess you're saying that you're aware of a similar case but you want to see the earlier papers from the case. You should probably be able to get some of all of the papers in that case either on-line or from the court. A law librarian can probably help. A younger MeFite lawyer will be coming along soon with the latest information.
posted by JimN2TAW at 5:23 PM on August 8

Do you have access to Westlaw or Lexis? They each have search features that allow you to text search filings and/or orders.

Frequently, the best way to find filings like these is to find the resulting orders and then work back from the case information, sometimes using pacer, or if it’s a state case, using whatever public filing system is available. This is especially true for the kind of pro se motions you might find filed in something like this.
posted by knobknosher at 5:53 PM on August 8 [1 favorite]

Also please let me know if you need help coming up with search terms
posted by knobknosher at 5:54 PM on August 8

CAIR Files Emergency Lawsuit on Behalf of Muslim Inmates in Alaska Being ‘Starved’ and Fed Pork During Ramadan (CAIR.com, May 23, 2018)
Read the Lawsuit

—>Read the Emergency Motion

AP News via VOA Update, September 07, 2019: Alaska Agrees to Accommodate Muslim Inmates’ Religious Needs

--

The national office and Georgia chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today held a news conference in Atlanta, Ga., to announce the filing of a lawsuit against DeKalb County Jail for repeatedly denying the provision of timely Ramadan meals to Muslims, essentially forcing inmates to choose between starving or violating the Ramadan fast. (CAIR.com, April 19, 2022)

"READ THE FILINGS:

"Complaint [VERIFIED COMPLAINT FOR DECLARATORY AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF (50 pgs, filed 4/18/2022)]

—>"Emergency Motion [PLAINTIFF’S EMERGENCY MOTION FOR TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER AND/OR PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION (5 pgs, filed 4/18/2022)]

"Memorandum [MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF PLAINTIFF’S EMERGENCY MOTION FOR TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER AND/OR PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION (20 pgs, filed 4/18/2022)]"

CAIR Update, 4/20/2022: CAIR, CAIR-Georgia Welcome Settlement with DeKalb County Jail Over Denial of Halal Food, Ramadan Meals for Muslim Inmates
GPB.Org Update, 4/29/2022
posted by Iris Gambol at 7:32 PM on August 8 [1 favorite]

jailhouselaw.org has The Jailhouse Lawyer's Handbook, published by the Center for Constitutional Rights; Chapter Four, Section B explains injunction eligibility (page 68), and Chapter 5, Section E, "Getting Immediate Help from the Court" (starting on page 90) has a filing template.
posted by Iris Gambol at 7:58 PM on August 8 [1 favorite]