No. 25-5639

Fathiree Uddin Ali v. Stephen E. Adamson, Chaplain, et al.

Lower Court: Sixth Circuit
Docketed: 2025-09-16
Status: Pending
Type: IFP
Response RequestedResponse WaivedRelisted (2)IFP
Tags: first-amendment individual-capacity injunctive-relief mootness religious-freedom rluipa
Key Terms:
FirstAmendment JusticiabilityDoctri
Latest Conference: 2026-02-20 (distributed 2 times)
Question Presented (from Petition)

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. seq. In Tanzin v Tanvir, 592 US 43 (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:

1. Whether RLUIPA violations authorizes monetary damages against state officials in their individual capacities;

2. Whether claims for injunctive relief against prison official are moot when the plaintiff is transferred to a new facility governed by the same departmental policies?;

3. Whether claims for injunctive relief against officials sued in their official capacity become moot upon their departure from office? or does; it transfer to his successor since repetitive harm would evade review?

4. Whether a prisoner states a claim for injunctive relief under RLUIPA without identifying a specific written departmental policy.when the policy can be reasonably inferred from systematic application?; and,

5. Whether prison officials violated clearly established First Amendment free exercise rights by misdirecting a Muslim inmate's halal diet request and denying it based on commissary purchases that inmate averred he did not consume?

Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether RLUIPA authorizes monetary damages against state officials in their individual capacities and whether claims for injunctive relief become moot under various circumstances

Docket Entries

2026-01-22
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 2/20/2026.
2026-01-22
Reply of petitioner Fathiree Ali filed. (Distributed)
2026-01-05
Brief of Michigan Department of Corrections, MDOC Defendants Steve Adamson, David Leach, and Shane Jackson. in opposition submitted.
2026-01-05
Brief of respondent Michigan Department of Corrections, MDOC Defendants Steve Adamson, David Leach, and Shane Jackson. in opposition filed.
2025-11-21
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including January 5, 2026.
2025-11-20
Motion of MDOC Defendants Steve Adamson, David Leach, and Shane Jackson. for an extension of time submitted.
2025-11-20
Motion to extend the time to file a response from December 4, 2025 to January 5, 2026, submitted to The Clerk.
2025-11-05
Waiver of right of respondent MDOC Defendants Steve Adamson, David Leach, and Shane Jackson. to respond filed.
2025-11-05
Waiver of right of respondent MDOC Defendants Steve Adamson, David Leach, and Shane Jackson to respond filed.
2025-11-04
Response Requested. (Due December 4, 2025)
2025-10-30
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 11/14/2025.
2025-07-29
Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due October 16, 2025)

Attorneys

Fathiree Ali
Fathiree Ali — Petitioner
MDOC Defendants Steve Adamson, David Leach, and Shane Jackson.
Ann Maurine ShermanMichigan Department of Attorney General, Respondent
Stephen E. Adamson, Chaplain, et al.
Christopher AlexOffice of the Attorney General of Michigan, Respondent