Source: The Associated Press
http://www.fac.org/templates/document.asp?documentID=17523
On February 3, 2003 The Associated Press reported that "a federal judge has denied a Virginia prisoner's request for kosher meals, declaring unconstitutional part of a federal law that dictates how government should treat the religious rights of inmates... Senior U.S. District Judge James Turk ruled Jan. 24 that requiring prison officials to provide Ira Madison, 32, with kosher meals would place the right to religious freedom above other civil rights... The law that took effect in 2000 — the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act — prohibits prison officials from refusing inmates the ability to exercise religion, unless they can show a compelling reason."