{"ID":55806,"name":"Sossamon v. Texas","href":"https:\/\/api.oyez.org\/cases\/2010\/08-1438","view_count":0,"docket_number":"08-1438","additional_docket_numbers":null,"manner_of_jurisdiction":"Writ of \u003Ci\u003Ecertiorari\u003C\/i\u003E","first_party":"Harvey Leroy Sossamon, III","second_party":"Texas, et al.","timeline":[{"event":"Granted","dates":[1274677200],"href":"https:\/\/api.oyez.org\/case_timeline\/case_timeline\/40801"},{"event":"Argued","dates":[1288674000],"href":"https:\/\/api.oyez.org\/case_timeline\/case_timeline\/40802"},{"event":"Decided","dates":[1303275600],"href":"https:\/\/api.oyez.org\/case_timeline\/case_timeline\/40803"}],"lower_court":{"ID":10,"name":"United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit","href":"https:\/\/api.oyez.org\/taxonomy\/term\/10"},"facts_of_the_case":"\u003Cp\u003EHarvey Sossamon, a Texas inmate, sued the state of Texas and various state officials in their official and individual capacities in a Texas federal district court. In part, he argued that he was denied access to the prison\u0027s chapel and religious services in violation of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (\u0022RLUIPA\u0022). The district court dismissed the claim.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EOn appeal, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit held that Mr. Sossamon could not sue Texas officials in their individual capacities under the RLUIPA. The court reasoned that because the Act was passed pursuant to Congress\u0027 Spending Power and not its Fourteenth Amendment Power, it did not create a cause of action for damages against state officials sued in their individual capacities. As to official-capacity lawsuits, the Fifth Circuit held that regardless of whether RLUIPA creates such a cause of action, it is barred by Texas\u0027s sovereign immunity.\u003C\/p\u003E\n","question":"\u003Cp\u003EUnder the RLUIPA, can a person sue a state official in his official capacity for damages?\u003C\/p\u003E\n","conclusion":"\u003Cp\u003ENo. The Supreme Court affirmed the lower court order in an opinion by Justice Clarence Thomas. \u0022States, in accepting federal funding, do not consent to waive their sovereign immunity to private suits for money damages under RLUIPA,\u0022 Thomas wrote for the 6-2 majority. Justice Sonia Sotomayor filed a dissenting opinion joined by Justice Stephen J. Breyer. \u0022Our precedents make clear that the phrase \u0027appropriate relief\u0027 includes monetary relief,\u0022 she argued. \u0022By adopting a contrary reading of the term, the majority severely undermines the \u0027broad protection of religious exercise\u0027 Congress intended the statute to provide.\u0022 Justice Elena Kagan took no part in consideration of the case.\u003C\/p\u003E\n","advocates":[{"advocate":{"ID":33970,"name":"Kevin K. Russell","href":"https:\/\/api.oyez.org\/people\/kevin_k_russell","view_count":0,"last_name":"Russell","roles":null,"thumbnail":null,"length_of_service":0,"identifier":"kevin_k_russell"},"advocate_description":"for the petitioner","href":"https:\/\/api.oyez.org\/case_advocate\/case_advocate\/20245"},{"advocate":{"ID":41442,"name":"Sarah E. 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