## Facts

- Cooper was an inmate at the Illinois State Penitentiary and practiced the Black Muslim faith.
- Cooper filed a federal civil rights suit against the prison warden, alleging discriminatory treatment by prison officials.
- He alleged that, solely because of his religious beliefs, prison officials denied him permission to purchase certain religious publications and denied him other privileges available to other prisoners.
- His allegations included denial of access to Black Muslim literature and a Qur’an while other inmates were allowed their religious texts and materials.
- Cooper brought the action under 28 U.S.C. § 1343 (jurisdiction) and 42 U.S.C. § 1983, asserting that the discrimination violated rights secured by the Constitution, including free exercise of religion.
- The federal district court dismissed the complaint for failure to state a claim upon which relief could be granted.
- The court of appeals affirmed the dismissal, leaving Cooper without discovery or a merits determination on his constitutional allegations.
- Cooper sought Supreme Court review, requesting leave to proceed in forma pauperis and petitioning for certiorari.
- The Supreme Court granted in forma pauperis status and certiorari, then resolved the case in a brief per curiam disposition.

## Issues

1. Whether a state prisoner’s allegation that he was denied religious publications and other privileges solely because of his religious beliefs states a cognizable claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
2. Whether, on a motion to dismiss, courts must accept as true a prisoner’s pleaded allegations of religious discrimination and allow the action to proceed if those allegations would amount to a constitutional violation.
3. Whether federal courts may review and remedy alleged constitutional violations in prison administration through § 1983, rather than dismissing such claims at the pleading stage.

## Decision

- The Supreme Court reversed the judgment affirming dismissal of Cooper’s complaint.
- The Court held that, accepting the complaint’s allegations as true (as required on a motion to dismiss), Cooper stated a cause of action under § 1983.
- The Court concluded it was error to dismiss the complaint for failure to state a claim.
- The Court cited lower-court decisions recognizing that prisoners may bring federal civil rights claims challenging unconstitutional treatment.
- The Court granted Cooper leave to proceed in forma pauperis and granted certiorari before reversing.

## Legal Principles

- State prisoners may sue under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 to challenge prison practices that allegedly violate rights secured by the Constitution and federal law, including discrimination based on religion.
- On a motion to dismiss, a court must accept the complaint’s factual allegations as true and determine only whether those allegations, if proven, would entitle the plaintiff to relief.
- Allegations that prison officials denied access to religious publications and privileges solely because of an inmate’s religious beliefs can state a constitutional claim sufficient to proceed beyond the pleading stage.
- The prison setting does not categorically bar federal judicial review of claimed constitutional violations by state officials; prisoners retain enforceable constitutional protections.

## Conclusion

The Supreme Court held that a prisoner who alleged he was denied religious publications and other privileges solely because of his faith stated a viable § 1983 claim, and the lower courts erred by dismissing the case at the pleading stage.


Cooper v. Pate, 378 U.S. 546 (1964)