Avery Williams v. Larry Norris

United States Court of Appeals FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT ___________ No. 99-1743 ___________ Avery D. Williams, * * Appellant, * * v. * * Larry Norris, Director, Arkansas * Appeal from the United States Department of Correction; Perry, * District Court for the Major, Chief of Security, North * Eastern District of Arkansas. Central Unit; Steve Lively, * Disciplinary Hearing Officer, North * [PUBLISHED] Central Unit; Larry May, Warden/ * Center Supervisor, North Central * Unit; David Guntharp, Grievance * Administrator, Central Office, * * Appellees. * ___________ Submitted: April 7, 1999 Filed: May 14, 1999 ___________ Before WOLLMAN, Chief Judge, RICHARD S. ARNOLD, and BEAM, Circuit Judges ___________ PER CURIAM. Avery D. Williams, an Arkansas inmate, appeals from the district court’s order dismissing his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action for failure to exhaust administrative remedies as required under 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(a). Williams had claimed that Arkansas Department of Correction officials violated his constitutional rights and his rights under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000bb-2000bb-4, by imposing a grooming policy which prohibited Williams--a Rastafarian--from wearing his hair in “dreadlocks.” We conclude the district court improperly granted defendants’ motion to dismiss, as the record demonstrates that Williams’s grievance had been denied by the Warden and the Assistant Director at the time the court ruled. Accordingly, we reverse and remand to allow Williams an opportunity to proceed on his claims. A true copy. Attest: CLERK, U.S. COURT OF APPEALS, EIGHTH CIRCUIT. -2-