Source: Beliefnet

Wire Service: RNS

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/158/story_15815_1.html

On December 20, 2004 Beliefnet reported, "a federal appeals court has ruled that the portion of a 2000 law protecting religious accommodation of prisoners is constitutional. The decision early this month by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals marks the third time an appeals court has upheld the same section of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act... In this case, inmate Ralph Benning sued the Georgia Department of Corrections, citing the law in his request as a 'Torah observant Jew' for a kosher diet and permission to wear a yarmulke. Georgia officials argued that the section of the law was unconstitutional because it advances religion by giving preferential treatment to prisoners solely because of their religion... The sole decision by an appeals court that has declared the section of the law unconstitutional has been appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court and will be heard this term."