May 2022 Church & State Magazine

Supreme Court Gives Inmate Access To Spiritual Adviser

  Supreme Court Gives Inmate Access To Spiritual Adviser

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in late March that a death row inmate in Texas has the right to have his spiritual adviser lay hands on him at the moment of execution.

John Henry Ramirez, a convicted murderer, sought to have the pastor of his Baptist church with him during the execution. Correctional officials in Texas denied the request, arguing it would violate execution protocols.

The Supreme Court ruled 8-1 in Ramirez’s favor March 24, concluding that he will likely prevail due to a 2000 federal law known as the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act.

The court acknowledged Texas’ concerns but said the state could “satisfy those interests by means less restrictive” than precluding the audible prayers or physical touch of spiritual advisers.

Chief Justice John G. Roberts, who wrote the majority opinion, said Texas officials could, for example, restrict the location of physical touch, limit the time period during which touching is permitted or require pastors to undergo training so they can understand the precautionary measures needed to avoid problems in the chamber.

The ruling in Ramirez v. Collier is based on “Texas’s specific execution protocol, chamber, and historical practices.” Similar cases in other states may result in different outcomes.

BREAKING NEWS

Americans United & the National Women’s Law Center file suit to challenge Missouri’s abortion bans.

Abortion bans violate the separation of church and state. Americans United and the National Women’s Law Center—the leading experts in religious freedom and gender justice—have joined forces with thirteen clergy from six faith traditions to challenge Missouri’s abortion bans as unconstitutionally imposing one narrow religious doctrine on everyone.


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