Cutter v. Wilkinson
The Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act contains provisions that are applicable to institutionalized persons which prohibit the government from imposing a substantial burden on prisoner's exercise of religion. The issue, in this case, is whether or not such provisions violate the Constitution's Establishment Clause, Spending Clause, or Commerce Clause.
Questions as Framed for the Court by the Parties
Whether Congress violated the Establishment Clause by enacting the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc-1 through § 2000cc-5, which requires state officials to lift unnecessary governmental burdens imposed on the religious exercise of institutionalized persons under their control.
Factual Summary
In 2000, Congress passed the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act ("RLUIPA"), which, in relevant part required that no government shall impose a substantial burden on the religious exercise of a person residing in or confined to an institution unless the burden is in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest and is the least restrictive means of furthering that interest. 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc-1(a).
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