No. 23-1197
Damon Landor v. Louisiana Department of Corrections and Public Safety, et al.
Tags: civil-rights constitutional-law damages government-official-liability individual-capacity-damages qualified-immunity religious-freedom religious-land-use spending-clause statutory-interpretation
Key Terms:
SocialSecurity FirstAmendment DueProcess Punishment JusticiabilityDoctri
SocialSecurity FirstAmendment DueProcess Punishment JusticiabilityDoctri
Latest Conference:
2025-06-18
(distributed 3 times)
Question Presented (AI Summary)
Whether an individual may sue a government official in his individual capacity for damages for violations of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA)
Question Presented (OCR Extract)
QUESTION PRESENTED Congress has enacted two “sister” statutes to protect religious exercise: the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 (RFRA), 42 U.S.C. 2000bb et seq., and the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 (RLUIPA), 42 U.S.C. 2000cc et seg. In Tanzin v. Tanvir, 592 U.S. 48 (2020), this Court held that an individual may sue a government official in his individual capacity for damages for violations of RFRA. RLUIPA’s relevant language is identical. The question presented is whether an individual may sue a government official in his individual capacity for damages for violations of RLUIPA. @
Docket Entries
2025-11-10
Argued. For petitioner: Zachary D. Tripp, Washington, D. C.; and Libby A. Baird, Assistant to the Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C. (for United States, as amicus curiae.) For respondents: J. Benjamin Aguiñaga, Solicitor General, Baton Rouge, La.
2025-10-27
Reply of petitioner Damon Landor filed. (Distributed)
2025-10-27
Reply of Damon Landor submitted.
2025-10-20
Motion of the Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument GRANTED.
2025-10-02
Motion of the Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument filed.
2025-10-02
Motion of United States for leave to participate in oral argument and for divided argument submitted.
2025-10-01
Brief of Louisiana Department of Corrections and Public Safety, et al. submitted.
2025-10-01
Amicus brief of National Sheriffs’ Association submitted.
2025-10-01
Brief amicus curiae of National Sheriffs’ Association filed. (Distributed)
2025-10-01
Brief of respondents Louisiana Department of Corrections and Public Safety, et al. filed. (Distributed)
2025-09-30
CIRCULATED
2025-09-15
Record received electronically from the United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana and available with the Clerk.
2025-09-04
Amicus brief of Agudath Israel of America submitted.
2025-09-03
Brief amici curiae of Rastafari Scholars filed.
2025-09-03
Amicus brief of American Association for Justice submitted.
2025-09-03
Brief amici curiae of Christian Legal Society filed.
2025-09-03
Brief amicus curiae of American Association for Justice filed.
2025-09-03
Brief amici curiae of 44 Religious Organizations filed.
2025-09-03
Amicus brief of The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America submitted.
2025-09-03
Amicus brief of National Congress of American Indians, Huy, and United South and Eastern Tribes Sovereignty Protection Fund submitted.
2025-09-03
Amicus brief of United States Senators Ted Cruz and Ted Budd submitted.
2025-09-03
Amicus brief of Rights Behind Bars, Human Rights Defense Center, Pennsylvania Institutional Law Project and Southern Center for Human Rights submitted.
2025-09-03
Amicus brief of Hindu American Foundation submitted.
2025-09-03
Amicus brief of Byron R. Johnson submitted.
2025-09-03
Brief amicus curiae of National Police Accountability Project filed.
2025-09-03
Brief amicus curiae of Professor Byron R. Johnson filed.
2025-09-03
Brief amicus curiae of Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America filed.
2025-09-03
Brief amicus curiae of American Center for Law and Justice filed.
2025-09-03
Brief amici curiae of Seven Religious Liberty Scholars filed.
2025-09-03
Brief amici curiae of The Bruderhof, et al. filed.
2025-09-03
Brief amici curiae of Former Correctional Officials filed.
2025-09-03
Brief amicus curiae of Constitutional Accountability Center filed.
2025-09-03
Brief amici curiae of Major Religious Denominations filed.
2025-09-03
Brief amicus curiae of The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America filed.
2025-09-03
Brief amici curiae of Rights Behind Bars, et al. filed.
2025-09-03
Brief amicus curiae of Hindu American Foundation filed.
2025-09-03
Brief amici curiae of National Congress of American Indians, et al. filed.
2025-09-03
Brief amicus curiae of Byron R. Johnson filed.
2025-09-03
Brief amici curiae of United States Senator Ted Cruz, et al. filed.
2025-09-03
Brief amici curiae of Religious and Civil-Rights Organizations filed.
2025-09-03
Brief amici curiae of Dr. Denny Autrey, et al. filed.
2025-09-03
Brief amicus curiae of Agudath Israel of America filed.
2025-09-03
Amicus brief of National Police Accountability Project submitted.
2025-09-03
Amicus brief of The Bruderhof, Clear, The Jewish Coalition for Religious Liberty, and The Sikh Coalition submitted.
2025-09-03
Amicus brief of Constitutional Accountability Center submitted.
2025-09-03
Amicus brief of American Center for Law and Justice submitted.
2025-09-03
Brief amicus curiae of United States filed.
2025-09-02
Amicus brief of The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty submitted.
2025-09-02
Brief amicus curiae of Becket Fund for Religious Liberty filed.
2025-09-02
Brief amicus curiae of The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty filed.
2025-08-27
Brief of Damon Landor submitted.
2025-08-27
Joint Appendix submitted.
2025-08-27
Brief of petitioner Damon Landor filed.
2025-08-27
Joint appendix filed. (Statement of costs filed)
2025-08-25
Record received from the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. The record is electronic and is available on PACER.
2025-08-21
Record requested from the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
2025-08-12
SET FOR ARGUMENT on Monday, November 10, 2025.
2025-07-16
Motion to extend the time to file the briefs on the merits is granted. The time to file the joint appendix and petitioner's brief on the merits is extended to and including August 27, 2025. The time to file respondents' brief on the merits is extended to and including October 1, 2025.
2025-06-30
Motion for an extension of time to file the briefs on the merits filed.
2025-06-30
Motion of Damon Landor for an extension of time submitted.
2025-06-23
Petition GRANTED.
2025-06-16
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 6/18/2025.
2025-05-27
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 6/12/2025.
2025-05-22
Supplemental brief of respondents Louisiana Department of Corrections and Public Safety, et al. filed. (Distributed)
2025-05-22
Supplemental Brief of Louisiana Department of Corrections and Public Safety, et al. submitted.
2025-05-07
Brief amicus curiae of United States filed.
2024-10-07
The Solicitor General is invited to file a brief in this case expressing the views of the United States.
2024-08-21
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 9/30/2024.
2024-08-20
Reply of petitioner Damon Landor filed. (Distributed)
2024-08-20
Reply of Damon Landor submitted.
2024-08-07
Brief of respondents Louisiana Department of Corrections and Public Safety, et al. in opposition filed.
2024-08-07
Brief of Louisiana Department of Corrections and Public Safety; James M. LeBlanc, in his official capacity as Secretary thereof, and individually; Raymond Laborde Correctional Center; Marcus Myers, in his official capacity as Warden thereof, and individually in opposition submitted.
2024-06-26
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is further extended to and including August 7, 2024.
2024-06-25
Motion of Louisiana Department of Corrections and Public Safety; James M. LeBlanc, in his official capacity as Secretary thereof, and individually; Raymond Laborde Correctional Center; Marcus Myers, in his official capacity as Warden thereof, and individually for an extension of time submitted.
2024-06-25
Motion to extend the time to file a response from July 8, 2024 to August 7, 2024, submitted to The Clerk.
2024-06-06
Brief amici curiae of Christian Legal Society, et al. filed. (June 14, 2024)
2024-06-06
Brief amici curiae of Christian Legal Society, et al. filed (June 14, 2024).
2024-06-06
Brief amici curiae of Christian Legal Society, et al.(Jun. 14 2024) filed.
2024-06-06
Brief amici curiae of Bruderhof, et al. filed.
2024-06-06
Brief amicus curiae of Agudath Israel of America filed.
2024-06-06
Brief amici curiae of 33 Religious Organizations filed.
2024-06-06
Brief amicus curiae of Byron R. Johnson filed.
2024-06-06
Brief amici curiae of Seven Religious Liberty Scholars filed.
2024-06-06
Brief amicus curiae of Dr. Denny Autrey filed.
2024-06-06
Brief amicus curiae of The Tayba Foundation filed.
2024-05-24
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including July 8, 2024. See Rule 30.1.
2024-05-22
Motion to extend the time to file a response from June 6, 2024 to July 6, 2024, submitted to The Clerk.
2024-05-03
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due June 6, 2024)
Attorneys
33 Religious Organizations
44 Religious Organizations
Adeel Abdullah Mangi — Linklaters LL P, Amicus
Adeel Abdullah Mangi — Linklaters LL P, Amicus
Adeel Abdullah Mangi — Linklaters LL P, Amicus
Agudath Israel of America
Benjamin L. Mesches — Haynes and Boone, LLP, Amicus
Benjamin L. Mesches — Haynes and Boone, LLP, Amicus
Benjamin L. Mesches — Haynes and Boone, LLP, Amicus
American Association for Justice
American Center for Law and Justice
Bruderhof, CLEAR, The Jewish Coalition For Religious Liberty, and The Sikh Coalition
Byron R. Johnson
Noel John Francisco — Jones Day, Amicus
Noel John Francisco — Jones Day, Amicus
Noel John Francisco — Jones Day, Amicus
Christian Legal Society
Steven T. McFarland — Suite 302, Amicus
Steven T. McFarland — Suite 302, Amicus
Steven T. McFarland — Suite 302, Amicus
Constitutional Accountability Center
Damon Landor
Zachary D. Tripp — Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, Petitioner
Zachary D. Tripp — Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, Petitioner
Zachary D. Tripp — Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, Petitioner
Dr. Denny Autrey
Former Correctional Officials
Hindu American Foundation
Louisiana Department of Corrections and Public Safety, et al.
Jorge Benjamin Aguinaga — Louisiana Department of Justice, Respondent
Jorge Benjamin Aguinaga — Louisiana Department of Justice, Respondent
Louisiana Department of Corrections and Public Safety; James M. LeBlanc, in his official capacity as Secretary thereof, and individually; Raymond Laborde Correctional Center; Marcus Myers, in his official capacity as Warden thereof, and individually
Jorge Benjamin Aguinaga — Louisiana Department of Justice, Respondent
MAJOR RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS
Gene Clayton Schaerr — Schaerr | Jaffe, Amicus
Major Religious Denominations
Gene Clayton Schaerr — Schaerr | Jaffe, Amicus
Gene Clayton Schaerr — Schaerr | Jaffe, Amicus
National Congress of American Indians, Huy, and United South and Eastern Tribes Sovereignty Protection Fund
National Police Accountability Project
James Patrick Davy — All Rise Trial & Appellate, Amicus
James Patrick Davy — All Rise Trial & Appellate, Amicus
James Patrick Davy — All Rise Trial & Appellate, Amicus
National Sheriffs’ Association
Rastafari Scholars
Charles Rothfeld — Mayer Brown LLP, Amicus
Charles Rothfeld — Mayer Brown LLP, Amicus
Charles Rothfeld — Mayer Brown LLP, Amicus
Religious and Civil-Rights Organizations
Rights Behind Bars, Human Rights Defense Center, Pennsylvania Institutional Law Project and Southern Center for Human Rights
Seven Religious Liberty Scholars
The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty
The Bruderhof, Clear, The Jewish Coalition for Religious Liberty, and The Sikh Coalition
The Tayba Foundation
The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America
Gordon Dwyer Todd — Sidley Austin,LLP, Amicus
Gordon Dwyer Todd — Sidley Austin,LLP, Amicus
Gordon Dwyer Todd — Sidley Austin,LLP, Amicus
United States
D. John Sauer — Solicitor General, Amicus
D. John Sauer — Solicitor General, Amicus
D. John Sauer — Solicitor General, Amicus
Moez Mansoor Kaba — Hueston Hennigan LLP, Amicus
United States Senators Ted Cruz and Ted Budd