JTA

January 21, 2015

The Supreme Court unanimously ruled in favor of a Muslim prisoner in Arkansas on his beard length in a case that drew Orthodox Jewish support.

In the ruling Tuesday in favor of inmate Gregory Holt, written by Justice Samuel Alito, the court said Arkansas failed to show why it was unable to allow the half-inch length that the “vast majority” of states and the federal government permit prisoners to grow their beards.

In so doing, the court said, the Arkansas Department of Correction violated a 2000 law that allows prisoners to worship according to their religious beliefs, and for which the Orthodox Jewish groups had lobbied on behalf of for years.

To read the rest of this article in Haaretz, click here.