Udey v. Kastner

644 F. Supp. 1441, 1986 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19997
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Texas
DecidedSeptember 24, 1986
DocketTX-85-175-CA
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 644 F. Supp. 1441 (Udey v. Kastner) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Udey v. Kastner, 644 F. Supp. 1441, 1986 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19997 (E.D. Tex. 1986).

Opinion

HALL, District Judge.

Today this Court must decide whether the federal prison system is constitutionally required to provide Petitioner Edwin Udey with an “organic diet”. Udey contends that he must be fed the proscribed fare because his diet is mandated by sincere religious beliefs. U.S. CONST, amend. I (free exercise clause).

On November 1, 1985, this Court adopted the Report and Recommendation of United States Magistrate Harry W. McKee which concluded that “the beliefs of the petitioner are not sincerely held religious beliefs [and that] [therefore, the right to partake of his specific diet is not protected by the free exercise clause of the First Amendment.” On appeal, The Court of Appeals reversed and remanded, concluding that Udey’s beliefs are sincerely held and religious in nature. Udey v. Kastner, Warden, Et Al., 805 F.2d 1218 (5th Cir.1986), reh’g granted (July 9,1986). The case was remanded “for an evidentiary hearing to determine whether meeting appellant Udey’s religious dietary requirements would place an undue burden on the prison system and whether there is any good reason not to provide him with food that complies with his religious diet.” Jurisdiction was retained for final disposition on the merits after remand.

Pursuant to the Order of Remand an evidentiary hearing was held in Texarkana, Texas, on July 16, 1986. Based on the evidence introduced at the July 16th hearing, the court concludes that Udey’s religious dietary demands place an undue burden on the penal system to the extent that there is good reason not to provide him with his requested religious diet.

I.

THE TEST

A prisoner retains the right to exercise his religion while in prison. Hudson v. Palmer, 468 U.S. 517, 104 S.Ct. 3194, 3198, 82 L.Ed.2d 393 (1984); Cruz v. Beto, 405 U.S. 319, 92 S.Ct. 1079, 31 L.Ed.2d 263 (1972); Thompson v. Com. of Ky., 712 F.2d 1078, 1080 (6th Cir.1983); Mukmuk v. Commissioner of Dept. of Correctional Services, 529 F.2d 272, 275 (2nd Cir.1976), cert. denied, 426 U.S. 911, 96 S.Ct. 2238, 48 L.Ed.2d 838 (1976). However, a prisoner’s First Amendment free exercise right is not absolute. Hudson v. Palmer, 104 S.Ct. at 3199; Bell v. Wolfish, 441 U.S. 520, 545-546, 99 S.Ct. 1861, 1877, 60 L.Ed.2d 447 (1979). In fact, even outside of the prison gates, religious liberty may be limited if overridden by a valid governmental interest [Goldman v. Weinberger, et al., — U.S. -, 106 S.Ct. 1310, 89 L.Ed.2d 478 (1986); Bob Jones University v. United States, 461 U.S. 574, 103 S.Ct. 2017, 76 L.Ed.2d 157 (1983); Brown v. Dade Christian Schools, Inc., 556 F.2d 310 (5th Cir.1977) cert. denied 434 U.S. 1063, 98 S.Ct. 1235, 55 L.Ed.2d 763 (1978)], although more restrictive measures on religious practice may be imposed in the prison than in the nonprison setting and withstand constitutional muster. Bell v. Wolfish, 441 U.S. at 545-546, 99 S.Ct. at 1877; Childs v. Duckworth, 705 F.2d 915, 920 (7th Cir.1983); Thompson v. Com. of Ky., supra at 1080; Kennedy v. Meacham, 540 F.2d 1057, 1061 (10th Cir.1976); Cochran v. *1443 Rowe, 438 F.Supp. 566, 570 (N.D.Ill.1977). Even where the practice of a clearly recognized religion is involved, claimed religious rights may be modified where the state has valid reasons for its actions. Childs v. Duckworth, 509 F.Supp. 1254, 1260 (N.D.Ind.1981), aff'd 705 F.2d 915 (7th Cir.1983). As our Chief Justice-Designate stated in Bell v. Wolfish, 441 U.S. at 545-546, 99 S.Ct. at 1877;

“ ‘Lawful incarceration brings about the necessary withdrawal or limitation of many privileges and rights, a retraction justified by the considerations underlying our penal system.’ The fact of confinement as well as the legitimate goal and policies of the penal institution limits these retained constitutional rights. There must be a ‘mutual accommodation between institutional needs and objectives and the provisions of the Constitution that are of general application’.” (citations omitted).

In evaluating whether or not Udey is entitled to the diet he requests, the Court applies a two part balancing test set forth in First Amendment free exercise clause jurisprudence. Africa v. Com. of Pa., 662 F.2d 1025, 1029-1030 (3rd Cir.1981), cert. denied 456 U.S. 908, 102 S.Ct. 1756, 72 L.Ed.2d 165 (1982). The threshold inquiry involves determining whether or not the avowed beliefs are (a) sincerely held and (b) religious in nature. If the Court determines that petitioner’s claim is based on a sincerely held religious belief, then a second inquiry must be made to determine whether or not there is any governmental interest of sufficient magnitude to outweigh the prisoner’s free exercise claim. The Remand Order states that the governmental interest in this case must rise to the level of avoidance of an “undue burden on the prison system” or some other “good reason” in order to outweigh Udey’s request.

II.

GOVERNMENTAL INTERESTS

Recognizing that the Honorable Court of Appeals has concluded that Udey’s requested diet is based on sincere religious beliefs, the Court makes the. following Supplemental Findings of Fact and Supplemental Conclusions of Law:

SUPPLEMENTAL FINDING OF FACT NO. 1

COST

It is undisputed that it would cost substantially more money to feed Udey his requested diet than it costs to feed either a prisoner who is not on a religious diet or a prisoner currently receiving a religious diet. Cost is a valid governmental interest to be taken into account when evaluating prisoner free exercise claims. Walker v. Blackwell, 411 F.2d 23, 26 (5th Cir.1969); Cochran v. Sielaff 405 F.Supp. 1126, 1128 (S.D.Ill.1976).

Ray O.

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Bluebook (online)
644 F. Supp. 1441, 1986 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19997, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/udey-v-kastner-txed-1986.