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Court Tries To Nail Down Meaning Of Kosher Diet

MIAMI (CBSMiami/NSF) - After ordering the Florida Department of Corrections to provide kosher meals to inmates, a federal judge is expected to hear arguments next week about what exactly that means.

U.S. District Judge Patricia Seitz ruled April 30 in a long-running dispute between the state and the U.S. Department of Justice about providing kosher meals to inmates whose religions have dietary restrictions. Seitz required attorneys for the state and the Justice Department to file proposed language for a final judgment and permanent injunction.

But Seitz issued another order last month setting a July 15 hearing because the two sides could not reach agreement on details, including the state objecting to use of the term "certified kosher diet" in any permanent injunction.

She wrote that she will hold the hearing, in part, to determine the "meaning of the terms 'kosher diet' and 'certified kosher diet,' " though she said that portion of the hearing could be canceled if agreement is reached.

Seitz wrote that "there is nothing in the record regarding what plaintiff (the Department of Justice) meant when it sought to have defendants (the state) provide 'kosher meals' to prisoners, and there is nothing in the record as to how either side believes defendants can demonstrate compliance with the court's order to provide kosher meals."

The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.

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