The Supreme Court announced Monday it will hear arguments over Louisiana prison personnel shaving the head of a Rastafarian inmate who had taken a religious vow to wear his hair long.

Damon Landor “let the locks of the hair of his head grow, a promise known as the Nazarite Vow,” according to his court filing.

Landor had a copy of a 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision upholding his Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act claim to keep his hair when he entered the Raymond Laborde Correctional Facility, but guards threw it away and shaved his head.

The 5th Circuit had reasoned that Landor could not sue the prison officials in their individual capacities to collect damages.

“Without a damages remedy, RLUIPA’s promise was empty. The panel could respond only by writing in italics that it ’emphatically condemn[ed]’ Landor’s mistreatment — as it dismissed his claims and left Landor with no relief whatsoever. That is a telltale sign that this Court’s intervention is needed,” lawyers for Landor argued.

It took four justices to vote in favor of hearing Landor’s appeal. Oral arguments will take place during the court’s next term, which begins in October.

The Louisiana Department of Corrections and Public Safety had urged the justices not to take the case, saying there is no circuit court split on this matter.

The case is Damon Landor v. Louisiana Department of Corrections and Public Safety.

• Alex Swoyer can be reached at aswoyer@washingtontimes.com.