Moussazadeh v. Texas Department of Criminal Justice

JERRY E. SMITH, Circuit Judge:

Through more than seven years of litigation, Max Moussazadeh has sought kosher meals while confined at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (“TDCJ”). The district court, on motion for summary judgment, dismissed Mous-sazadeh’s claim on two independent grounds: failure to exhaust administrative remedies as required by the Prison Litigation Reform Act (“PLRA”) and lack of sincerity of religious belief as required under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (“RLUIPA”). Moussazadeh appeals, and we reverse and remand.

I. Background.

A. Procedural…