U.S. Department
of Justice
United States v. California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (N.D. Cal.)
On March 28, 2024, the United States sought a preliminary injunction in United States v. California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (N.D. Cal.). The complaint alleged that California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII) by failing to properly consider religious accommodation requests from corrections officers. Beginning in 2022, CDCR prohibited employees who may need to use protective masks, such as N-95s or gas masks, from having most facial hair. Then, CDCR denied religious accommodation requests filed by bearded officers. On June 20, 2024, the Court entered a preliminary injunction temporarily enjoining CDCR from enforcement of its no-beard policy for officers whose sincerely held religious beliefs require them to wear beards. The order required CDCR to temporarily allow these officers to work or receive paid leave and to explore options for accommodating their religious beliefs, consistent with Title VII. This was ELS's first case seeking preliminary relief pending completion of an EEOC investigation.