Published on: Monday, September 26, 2022

Wisconsin man serving a prison sentence, a practicing Muslim, is strip searched in view of a transgender male prison guard. Man asks that future strip searches be conducted and witnessed only by biological males, alleging exposing his nether regions to be viewed by a woman other than his wife conflict with his religious faith. Prison: submit to future strip searches by the transgender guard or face discipline. Man sues. Seventh Circuit: For Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 (RLUIPA) purposes, all that matters is the sincerity of the inmate's belief. And since he is sincere and an accommodation would be easy, he wins. Also, we remand so he can develop second claim under the Fourth Amendment.

The case is West v. Radtke, 20-1570 (7th Cir. Sept. 16, 2022).