New York prison inmates, who sued department, will finally watch solar eclipse
Solar Eclipse
Lawyers of inmates at New York state's Woodbourne Correctional Facility recently sued the department over its decision to lock down prisons during a total solar eclipse event on Monday (Apr 8). Now, they will watch the celestial event after all, the lawyers said.
As reported by US-based media reports, the lawyers said that they've reached a settlement with the state that will allow the inmates to view the solar eclipse "in accordance with their sincerely held religious beliefs".
Six inmates, identified in reports as Jeremy Zielinski, Travis Hudson, Bruce Moses, Oscar Nuñez, Jean-Marc Desmarat and David Haigh, at the correctional centre had filed a lawsuit against the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision as they were allowed to watch the eclipse.
They argued that the department had been denying them the right to see the total eclipse, and the decision would violate their religious rights.
Chris McArdle, Sharon Steinerman, and Madeline Byrd of Alston & Bird were the lawyers. The plaintiffs have agreed to drop their suit with prejudice after Thomas Mailey, who is the spokesperson for the corrections department, said that the men have been allowed now.
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Mailey added in an emailed statement: "The lawsuit came to an appropriate resolution."
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Daniel Martuscello III, who is the department's acting commissioner, issued a memo last month and ordered that all incarcerated individuals would remain in their housing units next Monday from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm (local time).
The law firm Alston & Bird had filed a voluntary discontinuance on Thursday following the settlement.
A statement from Christopher L McArdle, Alston & Bird partner, read Thursday, "We are pleased that, in response to our lawsuit alleging religious discrimination, New York State has entered into a binding settlement agreement that will allow our six clients to view the solar eclipse in accordance with their sincerely held religious beliefs."
Skywatchers from across the world are excited for the upcoming celestial event when the moon will obscure the sun. It is the first solar eclipse visible in the US since the one on August 21, 2017.
(With inputs from agencies)