Oral Argument: Landor v. Louisiana Department of Corrections | Landor's Lost Locks and Clipped Constitutional Claims

Landor v. Louisiana Dept. of Corrections | Case No. 23-1197 | Oral Argument Date: 11/10/25 | Docket Link: Here

Overview

This is the Supreme Court oral argument in Landor versus Louisiana Department of Corrections, examining when prison guards clip constitutional claims. Damon Landor kept his Rastafarian vows for nearly two decades, but with just three weeks left in his sentence, Louisiana guards forced him down and shaved his head—even after he showed them a court ruling that said this exact act breaks federal law. Can Landor seek damages against the prison guard after Landor becomes free?

Oral Advocates:

• For Petitioner (Landor): Zachary D. Tripp, Washington, D.C. argues for Petitioner Landor
• For United States (as Amicus Curiae Supporting Petitioner): Libby A. Baird, Assistant to the Solicitor General, Department of Justice
• For Respondent (Louisiana Department of Corrections): J. Benjamin Aguiñaga, Solicitor General, Baton Rouge, Lousiana

Link to Opinion: TBD.

Website Link to Opinion Summary: TBD.

Website Link to Oral Argument: TBD.

Timestamps:

[00:00:00] Case Preview

[00:00:59] Argument Begins

[00:01:10] Petitioner Opening Statement

[00:03:02] Petitioner Free for All Questions

[00:18:33] Petitioner Round Robin Questions

[00:50:19] United States as Amicus Opening Statement

[00:51:22] United States as Amicus Free for All Questions

[01:00:54] United States as Amicus Round Robin Questions

[01:20:33] Respondent Opening Statement

[01:22:39] Respondent Free for All Questions

[01:45:57] Respondent Round Robin Questions

[01:48:15] Petitioner Rebuttal