Jeffrey Balawajder v. Texas Department of Criminal Justice - Instutional Division--Appeal from 12th District Court of Grimes County

Opinion issued July 31, 2006

In The

Court of Appeals

For The

First District of Texas

NO. 01-04-00820-CV

JEFFREY BALAWAJDER, Appellant

V.

TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE INSTITUTIONAL DIVISION, Appellee

On Appeal from the 12th District Court

Grimes County, Texas

Trial Court Cause No. 28,596

O P I N I O N

Appellant, Jeffrey Balawajder, appeals from a motion for summary judgment granted in favor of appellee, Texas Department of Criminal Justice Institutional Division (the Department). In his first 13 issues and issue 15, Balawajder contends that the trial court erred by granting summary judgment in favor of the Department, and by not granting summary judgment his favor, because the Department violated his right to free exercise of religion under the Texas Religious Freedom Restoration Act (TRFRA) and the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. In his issue 14, Balawajder contends that the trial court erred by not vacating the summary judgment entered in favor of the Department because the Department violated Balawajder s right to equal protection under Article 1, section 3a of the Texas Constitution by allowing him additional storage space for writings about subjects of law, but not allowing him additional storage space for writing [sic] about subjects of religion.

We conclude that the trial court erred by granting summary judgment in favor of the Department because fact questions remain regarding (1) whether the Department has a compelling interest not to allow additional storage space for religious materials, to the extent that it allows additional storage space for legal and educational materials, and (2) whether the Department has a compelling interest to prevent the administrative burden on prison officials that would be required by review of prisoners eligibility for additional storage space for religious materials. We further conclude that because these fact questions remain, Balawajder did not conclusively establish that A.D. 3.72 violates TRFRA. We thus sustain the portion of Balawajder s issues one through 13 and 15 that contend the trial court erred by granting summary judgment in favor of the Department, overrule those portions that contend the trial court erred by not granting summary judgment in favor of Balawajder, and need not address Balawajder s constitutional complaints.

Background

Balawajder, a follower of the Hare Krishna religion, has been an inmate in the Department prison system since 1989. In October 1999, Balawajder filed a request asking the Department to allow him to practice his religion, which he asserted was substantially burdened by the Department Administrative Directive 3.72 (AD 3.72). // AD 3.72 provides that except for certain noncombustible items, the total volume of an offender s property must be placed in [a] closable storage container not to exceed two cubic feet in size. Balawajder stated in his affidavit supporting the request that as a follower of the Hare Krishna religion, he is required to study the Hare Krishna scriptures, which consist of several hundreds of volumes of books. According to Balawajder, AD 3.72 substantially burdened his practice of the Hare Krishna religion by preventing him from possessing the hundreds of volumes of Hare Krishna scriptures needed to practice his religion.

In May 2000, Balawajder filed a grievance with the Department that was denied. Balawajder appealed the denial, but his appeal was denied in June 2000. Balawajder subsequently filed this lawsuit pursuant to the TRFRA, contending that AD 3.72 imposed a substantial burden on his free exercise of religion that was neither in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest nor the least restrictive means of furthering that interest. // The Department filed a motion for summary judgment, alleging that as a matter of law, AD 3.72 furthers a compelling governmental interest and is the least restrictive means of furthering that interest. // Balawajder also filed a motion for summary judgment, alleging that as a matter of law, the storage space limitation in AD 3.72 does not further a compelling governmental interest and is not the least restrictive means of furthering that interest. On October 15, 2002, the trial court granted the Department s motion for summary judgment and denied Balawajder s motion for summary judgment.

Summary Judgment Standard of Review

We review summary judgments de novo. Valence Operating Co. v. Dorsett, 164 S.W.3d 656, 661 (Tex. 2005). When both sides move for summary judgment and the trial court grants one motion and denies the other, we review the summary judgment evidence presented by both sides and determine all questions presented. Comm rs Court v. Agan, 940 S.W.2d 77, 81 (Tex. 1997); Cigna Ins. Co. v. Rubalcada, 960 S.W.2d 408, 411 12 (Tex. App. Houston [1st Dist.] 1998, no pet.). We render such judgment as the trial court should have rendered. Agan, 940 S.W.2d at 81; Rubalcada, 960 S.W.2d at 412. When, as here, a summary judgment does not specify the grounds on which it was granted, we will affirm the judgment if any one of the theories advanced in the motion is meritorious. Joe v. Two Thirty Nine Joint Venture, 145 S.W.3d 150, 157 (Tex. 2004).

Traditional summary judgment is proper only when the movant establishes that there is no genuine issue of material fact and that the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Tex. R. Civ. P. 166a(c). The motion must state the specific grounds relied upon for summary judgment. Id. In reviewing a traditional summary judgment, we must indulge every reasonable inference in favor of the nonmovant, take all evidence favorable to the nonmovant as true, and resolve any doubts in favor of the nonmovant. Valence Operating Co., 164 S.W.3d at 661.

TRFRA Requirements

TRFRA provides that a government agency may not substantially burden a person s free exercise of religion unless the government agency demonstrates that the application of the burden to the person . . . is in furtherance of a compelling government interest; and . . . is the least restrictive means of furthering that interest. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. 110.003(a) (b) (Vernon 2005). TRFRA defines free exercise of religion as

an act or refusal to act that is substantially motivated by sincere religious belief. In determining whether an act or refusal to act is substantially motivated by sincere religious belief . . . , it is not necessary to determine that the act or refusal to act is motivated by a central part or central requirement of the person s sincere religious belief.

Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. 110.001(a)(1) (Vernon 2005).

The federal counterpart to TRFRA is the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA). // See Adkins v. Kaspar, 393 F.3d 559, 567 & n.32 (5th Cir. 2004). The language of RLUIPA regarding the burdens of proof required to demonstrate a violation is substantially similar to that language in TRFRA, and we thus refer to federal caselaw construing the RLUIPA burdens of proof for our analysis of TRFRA burdens of proof. See 42 U.S.C.S. 2000cc-1 (Supp. 2006) // ; see also Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. 110.003(a) (b); Shesunoff v. Sheshunoff, 172 S.W.3d 686, 692 (Tex. App. Austin 2005, no pet. h.) (stating, When the same or a similar term is used in the same connection in different statutes, the term will be given the same meaning in one as in the other, unless there is something to indicate that a different meaning was intended ) (quoting Guthery v. Taylor, 112 S.W.3d 715, 721 22 (Tex. App. Houston [14th Dist.] 2003, no pet.)). Under RLUIPA, and hence TRFRA, the plaintiff bears the initial burden of showing that the government is substantially burdening his free exercise of religion. See Adkins, 393 F.3d at 567 (holding that under RLUIPA, plaintiff has initial burden of persuasion to demonstrate that government practice imposes substantial burden on his religious exercise).

Once a plaintiff shows that his free exercise of religion has been substantially burdened, however, the Texas and federal acts differ regarding which party next has the burden of proof. In Texas, a rule that applies to a person in the custody of a jail or other correctional facility . . . is presumed to be in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest and the least restrictive means of furthering that interest, but the presumption is rebuttable. Tex. Gov t Code Ann. 493.024 (Vernon 2004). Under TRFRA, therefore, a complaining party must rebut the presumption that any prison regulation that substantially burdens a prisoner s free exercise of religion is in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest and the least restrictive means of furthering that interest. See id. TRFRA is unlike RLUIPA, which places the entire burden of proof on the government to show that its substantially burdensome practice is in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest and the least restrictive means of furthering that interest. 42 U.S.C. 2000cc-1(a); Tex. Gov t Code Ann. 493.024.

As noted above, AD 3.72 is presumed to be in furtherance of the compelling governmental interest and the least restrictive means of furthering the interest. See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. 110.003(a) (b); Tex. Gov t Code Ann. 493.024. A presumption is simply a rule of law requiring the trier of fact to reach a particular conclusion in the absence of evidence to the contrary. Temple Indep. Sch. Dist. v. English, 896 S.W.2d 167, 169 (Tex. 1995). Thus, [t]he presumption disappears when evidence to the contrary is introduced. Id. Accordingly, [t]he effect of a presumption is to force the party against whom it operates to produce evidence to negate the presumption. Amaye v. Oravetz, 57 S.W.3d 581, 584 (Tex. App. Houston [14th Dist.] 2001, pet denied). In the context of a summary judgment, the party against whom the presumption operates must produce evidence sufficient to neutralize the effect of the presumption for the case to proceed to trial. Id. Thus, the party seeking to rebut the presumption must present evidence raising a fact issue against the presumption to withstand summary judgment. // See id. To rebut the presumption, therefore, the party resisting the government regulation must present more than a scintilla of evidence, see id., to show that the government regulation does not further a compelling governmental interest and that the regulation is not the least restrictive means of furthering that interest. See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. 110.003(a) (b); Tex. Gov t Code Ann. 493.024.

Prison and jail administrators have a compelling interest to establish necessary regulations and procedures to maintain good order, security and discipline, consistent with consideration of costs and limited resources. Diaz v. Collins, 114 F.3d 69, 73 (5th Cir. 1997) (quoting S. Rep. No. 103-111, at 10, as reprinted in 1993 U.S.C.C.A.N. at 1900). The orderly administration of [a] prison is thus a compelling governmental interest that justifies a substantial burden on the exercise of religion. // Ganther v. Ingle, 75 F.3d 207, 212 (5th Cir. 1996).

Once a party has carried its burden of production by producing some evidence to rebut the presumption that the substantial burden furthers a compelling government interest in the least restrictive means, thus neutralizing the presumption s effect, see Temple Independent School District, 896 S.W.2d at 169; Amaye, 57 S.W.3d at 584, the burden of persuasion shifts to the governmental agency to show that application of its substantially burdensome practice is in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest and that it is the least restrictive means of furthering that interest. See Adkins, 393 F.3d at 567 & n.32.

AnalysisBalawajder contends that the trial court erred by granting summary judgment in favor of the Department, and by not granting his motion for summary judgment because the Department violated his right to free exercise of religion under TRFRA. Under the shifting burdens of proof described above, Balawajder must overcome two initial burdens. First, he must show that his free exercise of religion was substantially burdened by the Department s rule. See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. 110.003(a) (b); see also Adkins, 393 F.3d at 567 & n.32. Second, he must rebut the presumption that favors the Department s rule by introducing more than a scintilla of evidence to show that the rule, as applied to him, (1) does not further a compelling government interest, and (2) is not the least restrictive means of furthering that interest. Tex. Gov t Code Ann. 493.024; see Temple Indep. Sch. Dist., 896 S.W.2d at 169; Amaye, 57 S.W.3d at 584. Once Balawajder introduces more than a scintilla of evidence to neutralize the presumption s effect, the Department has the final burden of proof to show that AD 3.72 furthers a compelling government interest in the least restrictive means. See Adkins, 393 F.3d at 567 & n.32.A. Substantial Burden

Although in this appeal both parties dispute whether Balawajder s free exercise of religion was substantially burdened by the Department s rule, at summary judgment, the Department conceded that Balawajder s free exercise of religion was substantially burdened by the rule. We cannot consider issues on appeal from summary judgment that the movant did not present to the trial court. Lopez v. Munoz, Hockema & Reed, L.L.P., 22 S.W.3d 857, 862 (Tex. 2000). Specifically, because summary judgment is a harsh remedy, we must strictly construe [the movant s] summary judgment grounds. Tanksley v. CitiCapital Commercial Corp., 145 S.W.3d 760, 763 (Tex. App Dallas 2004, pet. denied) (citations omitted). Thus, a summary judgment motion must stand or fall on the grounds expressly presented in the motion. McConnell v. Southside Indep. Sch. Dist., 858 S.W.2d 337, 341 (Tex. 1993); accord Science Spectrum, Inc. v. Martinez, 941 S.W.2d 910, 912 (Tex. 1997). Although [g]rounds may be stated concisely, without detail and argument[,] . . . they must at least be listed in the motion. McConnell, 858 S.W.2d at 340.

In its motion for summary judgment, the Department stated under the undisputed facts heading that [the Department s] refusal to let Balawajder have extra storage space for his 100 books substantially burdens Balawajder s free exercise of religion. The Department further stated, [The Department] concedes, for the purpose of this motion, that preventing Balawajder from having his 100 books substantially burdens his free exercise of religion. The Department thus affirmatively asserted, for the purpose of its summary judgment motion, that AD 3.72 substantially burdened Balawajder s free exercise of religion. However, the Department now asserts for the first time on appeal that Balawajder cannot show that [AD 3.72] substantially burden[s] his religious exercise because of a recently decided Fifth Circuit case that provides a standard for determining whether a person is substantially burdened. See Adkins, 393 F.3d at 570. // We cannot consider the Department s new assertion because it was not asserted as a summary judgment ground, and thus the Department s summary judgment did not challenge Balawajder s claim that AD 3.72 substantially burdened his free exercise of religion. See Lopez, 22 S.W.3d at 862; see also McConnell, 858 S.W.2d at 340.B. Compelling Governmental InterestBalawajder contends that he presented sufficient evidence to rebut the presumption that favors AD 3.72. Balawajder asserts that the Department allows extra storage space for legal and educational materials as exceptions to AD 3.72 and that the Department, therefore, does not have a compelling interest in denying him that same type of storage space to maintain good order, security and discipline, consistent with consideration of costs and limited resources. See Diaz, 114 F.3d at 73.

First, we determine whether Balawajder s summary judgment evidence rebuts the presumption that AD 3.72 furthers the compelling governmental interests in the least restrictive means. Second, if Balawajder rebuts this presumption, we must further consider whether the Department s summary judgment evidence proves that AD 3.72 furthers compelling governmental interests in the least restrictive means.

The Department s motion for summary judgment asserts that the compelling interests in restricting the amount of storage space were (1) limiting the amount of property an inmate may possess, (2) not awarding any inmate special privileges or preferential treatment, and (3) allowing prison chaplains to perform their normal duties attending to prisoner s spiritual needs, rather than processing inmate requests for more storage space and making individual determinations about which inmates get how much space, and dealing with inmate complaints over this issue. We are thus limited to considering only the grounds for summary judgment presented to the trial court by the Department. See Lopez, 22 S.W.3d at 857 (holding court of appeals cannot consider issues on appeal from summary judgment that movant did not present to trial court); McConnell, 858 S.W.2d at 340.

The Department attached two affidavits as its summary judgment evidence. The first affidavit contains the minutes of the Religious Practice Committee, with its summary recommendation that

[w]e have a compelling governmental interest in denying this demand. [Balawajder] has access to books that he can provide for himself up to the limit set by property rules. We are in compliance with the requirement to respond in the least restrictive way possible. Therefore, his request should be denied. Chaplaincy will respond to the free-world petitioners and to the offender with specifics about the denial.

The second affidavit, executed by Don Kaspar, the Director of the Chaplaincy Department at the Department, states the following:

If Mr. Balawajder is allowed to have extra storage space for his religious materials, either in his cell or in the Chaplain s office, then every other offender may wish to have the same privilege. If Mr. Balawajder is given extra space for his property, other offenders will perceive that he is receiving special privileges and preferential treatment. Additionally, reviewing every request for additional space for religious materials would take up a great deal of [the Department] chaplains time which would be better spent on regular duties.

This policy has nothing to do with Mr. Balawajder s Hare Krishna faith. Christians, Muslims, Jews, and practitioners of all other religions are treated the same way. No offender is given extra storage space to store religious property for the reasons listed above.

The Department s meager summary judgment evidence does not address the specific burdens that would be imposed by reviewing requests for additional space, nor does it address AD 3.72 s exceptions that allow additional storage space for legal and educational materials. //

Balawajder responds to the Department s claim that it has a compelling interest in limiting the amount of inmates property by noting that AD 3.72 allows exceptions for extra storage space for legal and educational materials. Undisputed evidence shows that the Department allows additional storage space for educational materials related to college course work which has been validated/approved . . . for the duration of the course. Additional storage space is also authorized for legal materials if the first closable storage container is totally filled with legal materials, current educational materials, and a reasonable amount of other personal property items. AD 3.72 does not limit the number of additional storage containers allowed for legal and educational materials so long as the prisoner demonstrates compliance with the requirements allowing for these exceptions. Balawajder contends that these exceptions are evidence that the Department does not have a compelling interest to limit his storage space for religious materials in a manner different from legal or educational materials. //

The Department asserts that because the exception for additional storage for legal and educational materials is temporary, it has no bearing on the necessity of unbending restrictions on the amount of permanent storage space to which each offender is entitled. Although the Department contends that the exceptions for additional storage space are temporary and thus distinguishable from Balawajder s request for additional space for religious material, the record shows that the additional storage space may be temporary or ongoing. Specifically, additional storage space for educational materials is allowed while an inmate is taking educational courses, but the Department imposes no limit on the length of time that an inmate is allowed to take courses. Furthermore, an inmate is allowed additional storage space for legal materials as long as a continued need for such materials is present. //

Balawajder also challenges the Department s claim that it has a compelling interest in not awarding any inmate special privileges or nonuniform treatment. Balawajder s opposition to the Department s motion for summary judgment sets forth the following examples of nonuniform treatment of certain inmates by the Department, among others:

" Additional storage boxes provided for legal materials, including seven storage boxes provided to Balawajder for legal materials only;

" Muslim prisoners excused from work on Fridays from noon to three p.m.;

" Only Christian prisoners assigned to the Department s Carroll Vance Unit of the prison;

" Special kosher diets given to Jewish prisoners; and

" Native American prisoners allowed to participate in sweat lodges.

Balawajder asserts, therefore, that these exceptions are evidence that the Department does not have a compelling interest in treating all inmates uniformly with respect to religious practices.

Lastly, Balawajder challenges the Department s claim that the exception proposed by him would cause an administrative burden on prison chaplains. Pursuant to AD 3.72, the law library supervisor must review and document the continued need for additional storage space for legal materials at least every 90 days. Balawajder contends that the administrative burden on the chaplain would be no different than the administration of legal materials and thus that the Department does not have a compelling interest in relieving the administrative burden on chaplains. By demonstrating that the exceptions under AD 3.72 allow prisoners to acquire additional storage containers for legal and educational materials, Balawajder raised more than a scintilla of evidence to rebut the presumption that limiting inmates storage space differently than that for legal or educational material furthers the Department s compelling interest in maintaining good order, security, and discipline, because it rebuts the Department s contention that it must treat all prisoners uniformly with respect to storage space. See Diaz, 114 F.3d at 73.

We conclude that in response to the Department s motion for summary judgment, Balawajder presented sufficient evidence to raise a fact question as to whether AD 3.72 furthers the Department s compelling interests in limiting storage space for books, preventing nonuniform treatment to prisoners, and restricting the administrative burden on chaplains. The evidence presented by Balawajder shows that the exceptions under AD 3.72 allow nonuniform treatment to prisoners who need legal and educational materials and that other nonuniform treatment is given to specific inmates for various reasons. Certainly, we do not intend to imply that Balawajder is entitled to a large and continually expanding Hare Krishna religious reference library, as the Department suggests. By creating exceptions for legal and educational materials and other religious practices, however, the Department did not prove as a matter of law that prisoners are subject to uniform limitations on the volume of personal property they may possess. Though the Department may ultimately prevail in establishing that its regulation furthers a compelling interest in the least restrictive means, it did not offer conclusive evidence, here, once Balawajder rebutted the statutory presumption.

Additionally, by demonstrating that the law library supervisor is required by AD 3.72 to review and document the continued need for additional storage space for legal documents every 90 days, Balawajder presented evidence that raises a fact question regarding whether the Department has a compelling interest in relieving chaplains from the administrative burden of processing inmate requests for additional storage space. Specifically, the Department did not show how this administrative function would be unduly burdensome compared to the law library supervisor s administrative burden of reviewing the continued need for legal documents every 90 days. We conclude, therefore, that Balawajder produced more than a scintilla of evidence to rebut the presumption that favors AD 3.72, and thus the burden shifted to the Department.

Because Balawajder succeeded in shifting the burden back to the Department, the Department bears the ultimate burden of proving that enforcing AD 3.72 to prevent Balawajder from having extra storage space for his religious materials furthers a compelling governmental interest in the least restrictive means. See Adkins, 393 F.3d at 567 & n.32. To affirm the summary judgment here, therefore, the record would have to show that the Department conclusively proved as a matter of law that enforcing AD 3.72 to prevent Balawajder from having extra storage space for his religious materials furthers a compelling governmental interest in the least restrictive means. See Tex. R. Civ. P. 166a(c); Adkins, 393 F.3d at 567 & n.32. The Department, however, did not present conclusive evidence to demonstrate compelling interests in (1) not allowing additional storage space for religious materials to the extent that it allows additional storage space for legal and educational materials, and (2) preventing the administrative burden on prison officials to determine whether inmates need additional storage space for religious materials when they are burdened with such a determination for legal and educational materials.

Furthermore, although Balawajder rebutted the presumption that favors A.D. 3.72, we conclude that he did not conclusively establish that A.D. 3.72 violates TRFRA because the following fact questions remain: (1) whether the Department has a compelling interest in not allowing additional storage space for religious materials to the extent that it allows additional storage space for legal and educational materials, and (2) whether the Department has a compelling interest in preventing the administrative burden of determining the eligibility of inmates for additional space for religious materials. Because there are fact questions regarding the Department s compelling interests and the least restrictive means to achieve such interests, we sustain the portion of Balawajder s issues one through 13 and 15 that contend the trial court erred by granting summary judgment in favor of the Department, overrule those portions that contend the trial court erred by not granting summary judgment in favor of Balawajder, and need not address Balawajder s constitutional complaints. See Bradley v. State ex rel. White, 990 S.W.2d 245, 247 (Tex. 1999) (stating that courts of appeals do not consider constitutional challenges that can be disposed of on nonconstitutional grounds).

ConclusionWe reverse the summary judgment entered by the trial court and remand this case for proceedings not inconsistent with this opinion.

Elsa Alcala

Justice

Panel consists of Justices Keyes, Alcala, and Bland.