No. 25-6058

Raymond E. Lumsden v. Eric Guerrero, Director, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Correctional Institutions Division, et al.

Lower Court: Fifth Circuit
Docketed: 2025-11-06
Status: Denied
Type: IFP
Response WaivedIFP
Tags: equal-protection establishment-clause first-amendment prison-ministry religious-discrimination rluipa
Latest Conference: 2026-01-09
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Does Texas' partnership with a Christian-only prison ministry program violate the Establishment Clause and RLUIPA by providing special privileges only to Christian participants and denying equal opportunities to inmates of other faiths, particularly Native Americans?

Question Presented (OCR Extract)

1. Does.Texas' Partnership With The 'Heart'Of Texas College Of Ministry, A Solely Christian-Based Organization Housed And Operated On A Texas Prison, That Provides Special Type Incentives And Privileges To Graduating "Field Minister's" Who Endure The Four Year Program Of Christian Only Studies, Violate The Establishment Clause and RLUIPA Protections Of Petitioner Who Is Native American And Refuses To Participate In The Christian Only Studies Due To His Faith Sincerety, And Thus Cannot Receive The Same Incentives Or Special Privileges Provided To Those Who Choose To Violate.Their Own Faith Simply For Them-And Because.Texas Prefers The Christian Faith Over All Other's Where There Is Only The Christian-Based Opportunity To Become A "Field Minister" And None For Those Who Are Sincered To And Practice Other Faiths ? 2. Does The Texas Department Of Criminal Justice, Who Has A Budget Of More Than TWO BILLION DOLLARS, Violate The Eighth Amendment By Exposing Petitioner and Inmates To Excessive Heat Conditions That Have Caused The Deaths Of More Than 200 Inmates At 30X The National Average , IWhile Providing?; Funding For Transgender Health Care In The Millions That Could Easily Fund Air Conditioning That Would Save Lives? 3. Does The Texas Department Of Criminal Justice Violate The Petitioner's Sincerely Held Native American Faith Practices Under RLUIPA By Denying Equinox and Solstice Spiritual Meals While Allowing Other Faith Groups ;Such As Pagans And Odonists To Have Them For The Observances And Spiritual Type Practices ? 4. Does The Texas Department Of Criminal Justice Violate The Equal Protection Act By Providing Special Mattresses, Living Areas and Housing, Clothing, Visitation, And Other Privilges To "Tier Walker's, Field Minister's, Peer Coaches, Life Coaches, Footprints, My Brother's Keeper's, A/K/A "Building Tender's" That Equally Situated Inmates Who Are Not Part Of Those Programs That Allow Inmates To Hold Supervisory And Administrative Authority Over Other Inmates, Doh't.Receive Equally?

Docket Entries

2026-01-12
Petition DENIED.
2025-12-11
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/9/2026.
2025-12-04
Waiver of right of respondent Bryan Collier, et al. to respond filed.
2025-09-25
Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due December 8, 2025)

Attorneys

Bryan Collier, et al.
Lucy E. PruittOffice of the Attorney General of Texas, Respondent
Lucy E. PruittOffice of the Attorney General of Texas, Respondent
Raymond E. Lumsden
Raymond E. Lumsden — Petitioner
Raymond E. Lumsden — Petitioner