Herman Resnick v. Michael Adams, Warden Mike Szafir, Administrator, Food Order and Services

**Prison Worker's Religious Meal Request Denied by Court** Herman Resnick, an inmate at the United States Penitentiary at Lompoc, sued prison officials because he wanted kosher meals for religious reasons. The prison had a Common Fare Program that provided kosher food, but required inmates to fill out an application first. Resnick argued that making him apply violated his First Amendment right to practice his religion freely. The court ruled in favor of the prison officials, granting them summary judgment based on qualified immunity. The judges decided that requiring an application before providing kosher meals was reasonable for a prison setting and did not violate Resnick's religious rights. The court applied a "reasonableness test" that gives prison administrators more flexibility in managing religious accommodations compared to other workplaces. **What this means for workers:** While this case involved a prison inmate rather than a typical employee, it shows how courts balance religious accommodation requests with institutional needs. In regular workplaces, employers must make reasonable accommodations for workers' religious practices, but they can establish reasonable procedures for requesting those accommodations. The key is that any requirements must be fair and not create unnecessary barriers to religious practice.