Case: Carberry v. Murphy

1:87-cv-01249 | U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho

Filed Date: Aug. 20, 1987

Closed Date: 1990

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On August 20, 1987, several inmates of the Idaho State Correctional Facility, represented by a private attorney and the American Civil Liberties Union of Idaho, filed a consolidated 42 U.S.C. § 1983 class action lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of Idaho. The lawsuit challenged the Idaho Department of Corrections' "no beard" rule as violating plaintiffs' right to free exercise of religion under the First and Fourteenth Amendments. They sought declaratory and injunc…

On August 20, 1987, several inmates of the Idaho State Correctional Facility, represented by a private attorney and the American Civil Liberties Union of Idaho, filed a consolidated 42 U.S.C. § 1983 class action lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of Idaho. The lawsuit challenged the Idaho Department of Corrections' "no beard" rule as violating plaintiffs' right to free exercise of religion under the First and Fourteenth Amendments. They sought declaratory and injunctive relief. While waiting for class certification, the parties settled.

On May 3, 1988 the parties agreed to a settlement that outlined state-wide guidelines by which inmates would be allowed to grow facial hair as prescribed by their religion. The fear of the State was that a prisoner would be able to alter his appearance from how he appeared on this identification card by growing facial hair. Accordingly, under the settlement, a prisoner had to declare his religion to the prison and he had to assert that it required the growing of a beard as a basic tenet of that religion. Specifically, the agreement noted that Sikhs, Muslims, and Orthodox Jews have prescriptions against shaving facial hair. For prisoners asserting other religious justifications, the Director of Corrections would determine within ten days if in fact the religion required growing a beard as a basic tenet. The inmate was then be put into a secured cell until his beard grew to the desired length (but no longer than 2.5 inches), at which time his identification photograph would be taken at the his own expense, and he would be reinstated to his previous housing placement. The inmate would then be required to keep the beard the same length and appearance as reflected in his I.D., or he would have to report his desire to change his appearance and/or religion to the prison. These privileges were afforded to all prisoners except those who had certain disciplinary problems at the prison. The settlement required that any non-compliance was to be reported first to the parties of the settlement before seeking court relief. The agreement stipulated that the Court was to retain jurisdiction over the action to enforce the Consent Decree for one year after the defendants notified the plaintiffs that it has been fully implemented. Thus, one year later, on July 30, 1990 the Court (Judge Harold L. Ryan) dismissed the case for lack of jurisdiction.

No further information is available on PACER.

Summary Authors

Rebecca Bloch (2/27/2006)

People


Judge(s)

Ryan, Harold Lyman (Idaho)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Beane, Stephen W. (Idaho)

Lopez, Mark J. (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Defendant

Gates, Robert R. (Idaho)

Jones, Jim (Idaho)

Judge(s)

Ryan, Harold Lyman (Idaho)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

1:87-cv-01249

Docket (PACER)

July 30, 1990

July 30, 1990

Docket

1:87-cv-01249

Motion to Approve and Enter Consent Decree

May 3, 1988

May 3, 1988

Settlement Agreement

Docket

Last updated March 24, 2024, 3:12 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
3

COMPLAINT (Summons(es) issued) (jb) (Entered: 08/09/1990)

Aug. 20, 1987

Aug. 20, 1987

11

ANSWER by defendants (jb) (Entered: 08/09/1990)

Sept. 23, 1987

Sept. 23, 1987

18

MINUTES OF STATUS CONFERENCE; (jb) (Entered: 08/09/1990)

March 4, 1988

March 4, 1988

21

ORDER by Honorable Harold L. Ryan dismissing case for lack of

July 30, 1990

July 30, 1990

Case Details

State / Territory: Idaho

Case Type(s):

Prison Conditions

Key Dates

Filing Date: Aug. 20, 1987

Closing Date: 1990

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Inmates at the Idaho State Correctional Facility

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: Yes

Class Action Outcome: Granted

Defendants

Idaho Department of Corrections, State

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Constitutional Clause(s):

Free Exercise Clause

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Order Duration: 1988 - None

Issues

General:

Religious programs / policies

Type of Facility:

Government-run