No. 25-6058

Raymond E. Lumsden v. Eric Guerrero, Director, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Correctional Institutions Division, et al.

Lower Court: Fifth Circuit
Docketed: 2025-11-06
Status: Denied
Type: IFP
Response WaivedIFP
Tags: equal-protection establishment-clause first-amendment prison-ministry religious-discrimination rluipa
Latest Conference: 2026-01-09
Question Presented (from Petition)

1. Does.Texas' Partnership With The 'Heart'Of Texas College
Of Ministry, A Solely Christian-Based Organization Housed
And Operated On A Texas Prison, That Provides Special Type
Incentives And Privileges To Graduating "Field Minister's"
Who Endure The Four Year Program Of Christian Only Studies,
Violate The Establishment Clause and RLUIPA Protections Of
Petitioner Who Is Native American And Refuses To Participate
In The Christian Only Studies Due To His Faith Sincerety,
And Thus Cannot Receive The Same Incentives Or Special
Privileges Provided To Those Who Choose To Violate.Their
Own Faith Simply For Them-And Because.Texas Prefers The
Christian Faith Over All Other's Where There Is Only The
Christian-Based Opportunity To Become A "Field Minister"
And None For Those Who Are Sincered To And Practice Other
Faiths ?

2. Does The Texas Department Of Criminal Justice, Who Has A
Budget Of More Than TWO BILLION DOLLARS, Violate The Eighth
Amendment By Exposing Petitioner and Inmates To Excessive
Heat Conditions That Have Caused The Deaths Of More Than
200 Inmates At 30X The National Average , IWhile Providing?;
Funding For Transgender Health Care In The Millions That
Could Easily Fund Air Conditioning That Would Save Lives?

3. Does The Texas Department Of Criminal Justice Violate The
Petitioner's Sincerely Held Native American Faith Practices
Under RLUIPA By Denying Equinox and Solstice Spiritual
Meals While Allowing Other Faith Groups ;Such As Pagans And
Odonists To Have Them For The Observances And Spiritual Type
Practices ?

4. Does The Texas Department Of Criminal Justice Violate The
Equal Protection Act By Providing Special Mattresses, Living
Areas and Housing, Clothing, Visitation, And Other Privilges
To "Tier Walker's, Field Minister's, Peer Coaches, Life
Coaches, Footprints, My Brother's Keeper's, A/K/A "Building
Tender's" That Equally Situated Inmates Who Are Not Part Of
Those Programs That Allow Inmates To Hold Supervisory And
Administrative Authority Over Other Inmates, Doh't.Receive
Equally?

Question Presented (AI Summary)

Does Texas' partnership with a Christian-only prison ministry program violate the Establishment Clause and RLUIPA by providing special privileges only to Christian participants and denying equal opportunities to inmates of other faiths, particularly Native Americans?

Docket Entries

2026-01-12
Petition DENIED.
2025-12-11
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/9/2026.
2025-12-04
Waiver of right of respondent Bryan Collier, et al. to respond filed.
2025-09-25
Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due December 8, 2025)

Attorneys

Bryan Collier, et al.
Lucy E. PruittOffice of the Attorney General of Texas, Respondent
Raymond E. Lumsden
Raymond E. Lumsden — Petitioner