Arkansas correctional rules restricting a Muslim inmate from growing a half-inch beard for religious reasons were poorly justified, and it's not surprising that SCOTUS ruled 9-0 to overturn the restrictions (more background and analysis at http://www.scotusblog.com/2015/01/a-unanimous-supreme-court-endorses-religious-liberties-in-prison-in-plain-english/).
On the other hand, I always worry when Alito's the one writing the majority opinion, and, as http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-wp-blm-news-bc-scotus-beard-comment21-20150121-story.html indicates, there may be some reason for worry as his opinion sets precedent for less-uncontroversial (and likely less-unanimous) rulings on religious exemptions in the future.
Supreme Court says Muslim prisoner can keep beard
The Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled in favor of the religious freedom claims of a prisoner in Arkansas who wanted to grow a beard in accordance with his Muslim faith, but was blocked by the Department of Corrections’ policy that forbids beards except for diagnosed dermatological problems.
