SMITH v. OWENS DO NOT ACCEPT FILINGS FROM WASEEM DAKER WITHOUT ORDER OF THE COURT

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF GEORGIA MACON DIVISION LESTER JAMES SMITH, : : Plaintiff, : : CASE NO.: 5:12-CV-26 (WLS) v. : : GREGORY DOZIER, : : Defendant. : : BENCH OPINION I. Procedural Background On January 24, 2012, Plaintiff filed a pro se Complaint alleging that the Georgia Department of Corrections’ (“GDOC’s”) grooming policy violates the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (“RLUIPA”), 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc et seq. (Doc. 1; see Doc. 183-22 at 6-7.) Because the policy forbids inmates from growing facial hair in excess of one half-inch in…