Jewish Inmate Sought $10B for 1st Amend. Denial; Claimed Entitled to Unleavened Bread, Grape Juice

The Reuters website reports today (August 12, 2011) that a federal judge has ruled that a Jewish inmate in a New York jail does not have a constitutionally-protected right to matzoh and grape juice.

Christopher Henry -- who was convicted of first-degree sodomy -- claimed permanent trauma and malnourishment, and requested nearly $10 billion in damages for what he called a violation of his First Amendment right to religious freedom.

Henry claimed he had the right to have the unleavened bread served daily and grape juice every Friday.

But on August 2, U.S. Southern District Judge Shira Scheindlin held that Rikers Island jail could deny Henry his request in the interests of maintaining order and keeping costs reasonable.