October Term 2014 · Docket 13-6827
Does a half-inch beard violate prison security rules?
A prisoner seeks to grow a beard for religious reasons. Arkansas claims this rule threatens prison safety.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Laycock argued forty prison systems allow beards. He stated Arkansas rejects evidence to seek absolute deference.
Curran argued the beard aids disguise. He claimed it threatens identification and contraband concealment.
Yang argued the state failed its burden. He stated forty states allow such beards without issue.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 3-17 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 3-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 51-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-41 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-41
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Salah Horn argues his faith requires a beard. Arkansas officials ban beards to prevent contraband and disguise. The lower court sided with the state. Horn asks the Supreme Court to reverse that result.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 3-17 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 3-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-37
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 7, 2014.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-15
What each side wants
Horn wants the Court to strike down the beard ban. He argues his religious rights outweigh the state's security claims.
Arkansas wants the Court to uphold the beard ban. It argues the rule is essential for maximum security.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 3-17 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 3-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-37
What each side says
Horn's counsel argues forty other prison systems allow beards. They claim Arkansas rejects valid evidence to gain absolute deference.
Arkansas's counsel argues a half-inch beard aids disguise. They claim this threatens identification and contraband concealment.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 3-17 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 3-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-37
What the justices asked
Justice Ginsburg asked if a quarter-inch rule would satisfy the standard. She noted other inmates receive similar accommodations.
Justice Kennedy asked if RLUIPA displaces the Turner standard. He questioned the specific burden on prisons under strict scrutiny.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 51-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-41 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-41
Why it matters
This case defines the balance between religious freedom and prison security. It sets the standard for evaluating inmate accommodation requests. The outcome impacts how states manage religious practices in custody.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 3-17 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 3-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-37
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 51-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-41 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-41
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 3-17 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 3-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 3-17 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 3-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-37
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.