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Holt v. Hobbs

Docket No. Op. Below Argument Opinion Vote Author Term
13-6827 8th Cir. Oct 7, 2014 Jan 20, 2015 9-0 Alito OT 2014

Holding: An Arkansas prison policy that prevents a Muslim prisoner from growing a half-inch beard in accordance with his religious beliefs violates the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act.

Judgment: Reversed and remanded, 9-0, in an opinion by Justice Alito on January 20, 2015. Justice Ginsburg filed a concurring opinion, in which Justice Sotomayor joined. Justice Sotomayor also filed a concurring opinion.

DateProceedings and Orders (key to color coding)
Sep 27 2013Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due November 12, 2013)
Oct 11 2013Application (13A374) for an injunction pending disposition of the petition for a writ of certiorari, submitted to Justice Alito.
Oct 16 2013Response to application (13A374) requested by Justice Alito. (Due Thursday, October 24, 2013, by 4 p.m. EDT.)
Oct 24 2013Response to application from respondent Ray Hobbs, Director, Arkansas Department of Correction, et al. filed.
Oct 29 2013Waiver of right of respondents Ray Hobbs, Director, Arkansas Department of Correction, et al. to respond filed.
Oct 31 2013DISTRIBUTED for Conference of November 15, 2013.
Nov 1 2013Response Requested . (Due December 2, 2013)
Nov 14 2013Application (13A374) referred to the Court.
Nov 14 2013Application (13A374) granted by the Court. The application for an injunction submitted to Justice Alito and by him referred to the Court is granted pending disposition of applicant’s petition for a writ of certiorari. Respondents are enjoined from enforcing the Arkansas Department of Correction’s grooming policy to the extent that it prohibits applicant from growing a one-half-inch beard in accordance with his religious beliefs. If the Court denies the petition for a writ of certiorari, this order shall terminate automatically. If the Court grants the petition for a writ of certiorari, this order shall terminate when the Court enters its judgment.
Nov 21 2013Order extending time to file response to petition to and including January 16, 2014.
Jan 3 2014Supplemental brief of petitioner Gregory Houston Holt, aka Abdul Maalik Muhammad filed.
Jan 16 2014Brief of respondents Ray Hobbs, Director, Arkansas Department of Correction, et al. in opposition filed.
Jan 30 2014DISTRIBUTED for Conference of February 21, 2014.
Feb 4 2014Reply of petitioner Gregory Houston Holt, aka Abdul Maalik Muhammad filed. (Distributed)
Feb 24 2014DISTRIBUTED for Conference of February 28, 2014.
Mar 3 2014Motion to proceed in forma pauperis and petition for a writ of certiorari GRANTED.
Mar 3 2014The order granting the petition for a writ of certiorari is amended as follows: The motion of petitioner for leave to proceed in forma pauperis is granted. The petition for a writ of certiorari is granted limited to the following question: “Whether the Arkansas Department of Correction’s grooming policy violates the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000, 42 U. S. C. §2000cc et seq., to the extent that it prohibits petitioner from growing a one-half-inch beard in accordance with his religious beliefs.”
Apr 1 2014The time to file the joint appendix and petitioner's brief on the merits is extended to and including May 22, 2014.
Apr 1 2014The time to file respondents' brief on the merits is extended to and including July 23, 2014.
Apr 15 2014Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs, in support of either party or of neither party, received from counsel for the respondents.
Apr 21 2014Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs, in support of either party or of neither party, received from counsel for the petitioners.
Apr 23 2014Joint appendix filed. (Statement of costs filed)
May 22 2014Brief of petitioner Gregory Houston Holt, aka Abdul Maalik Muhammad filed.
May 29 2014Brief amicus curiae of the United States filed.
May 29 2014Brief amici curiae of Anti-Defamation League, et al. filed.
May 29 2014Brief amici curiae of American Jewish Committee, et al. filed.
May 29 2014Brief amici curiae of Former Corrections Officials John Clark, et al. filed.
May 29 2014Brief amici curiae of Former Prison Wardens filed.
May 29 2014Brief amicus curiae of Americans United for Separation of Church and State filed.
May 29 2014Brief amicus curiae of Alliance Defending Freedom filed.
May 29 2014Brief amici curiae of National Congress of American Indians and Huy filed.
May 29 2014Brief amici curiae of National Jewish Commission on Law and Public Affairs, et al. filed.
May 29 2014Brief amici curiae of The Sikh Coalition and Muslim Public Affairs Council filed.
May 29 2014Brief amici curiae of Prison Fellowship Ministries, et al. filed.
May 29 2014Brief amici curiae of Dr. Ronald L. Akers, et al. filed.
May 29 2014Brief amici curiae of International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, et al. filed.
May 29 2014Brief amici curiae of Islamic Law Scholars filed.
May 29 2014Brief amicus curiae of Women's Prison Association filed.
May 29 2014Brief amicus curiae of The Rutherford Institute filed.
May 29 2014Brief amici curiae of Reformed Prisoners Jesse Wiese, et al. filed.
Jun 9 2014Motion of the Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument filed.
Jul 9 2014Record requested from U.S.C.A. 8th Circuit.
Jul 16 2014SET FOR ARGUMENT ON Tuesday, October 7, 2014
Jul 23 2014Brief of respondents Ray Hobbs, Director, Arkansas Department of Correction, et al. filed.
Jul 30 2014Brief amici curiae of Alabama, et al. filed.
Aug 7 2014CIRCULATED.
Aug 13 2014Record received from U.S.C.A. 8th Circuit. 1-Envelope. The full record is located on PACER.
Aug 15 2014Record received from U.S.D.C. Eastern District of Arkansas Pine Bluff Division, 1 Envelope.
Aug 22 2014Reply of petitioner Gregory Houston Holt, aka Abdul Maalik Muhammad filed. (Distributed)
Aug 22 2014Proposal to lodge copies of two exhibits from an evidentiary hearing before the magistrate from counsel for petitioner.
Aug 22 2014Proposal to lodge copies of responsive documents to extra-record representations made in respondents' brief on the merits from counsel for the petitioner.
Aug 26 2014Letter from counsel for respondents in response to petitioner's lodging proposals.
Aug 29 2014Motion of the Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument GRANTED.
Oct 7 2014Argued. For petitioner: Douglas Laycock, Charlottesville, Va.; and Anthony A. Yang, Assistant to the Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C. (for United States, as amicus curiae.) For respondents: David A. Curran, Deputy Attorney General, Little Rock, Ark.
Jan 20 2015Judgment REVERSED and case REMANDED. Alito, J., delivered the opinion for a unanimous Court. Ginsburg, J., filed a concurring opinion, in which Sotomayor, J., joined. Sotomayor, J., filed a concurring opinion.
Feb 23 2015JUDGMENT ISSUED.
Feb 27 2015Record returned to U.S.D.C. Eastern District of Arkansas Pine Bluff Division. (1-Envelope).
Feb 27 2015Record returned to U.S.C.A. 8th Circuit. (1-Envelope).