Supreme Court rules that prison guards can't be sued for shaving Rastafarian's head

The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that a Louisiana prisoner cannot sue prison guards under federal law for forcibly shaving his dreadlocks in violation of his Rastafarian religious beliefs. NPR's reporting, by veteran legal correspondent Nina Totenberg, reflects strong journalistic standards typical of major national outlets; the piece is corroborated across multiple outlets (CBS, NYT, Guardian, KNKX) which all confirm the 6-3 decision, the plaintiff's identity (Damon Landor in some sources), and the core holding that guards cannot be sued for this action. The independent search results provide additional detail—notably that Landor had grown his hair for over 20 years—offering context the NPR headline alone does not convey about the duration and significance of the religious practice. Watch for potential legislative responses or advocacy efforts from religious liberty organizations, as this decision narrows protections under federal law for prisoners' religious expression rights.