High court likely to allow Muslim inmate's beard

The US Supreme Court appears likely to side with a prison inmate who says his Muslim beliefs require him to grow a half-inch (12 millimeters) beard.
The justices today took up their first religious liberty case since the Hobby Lobby case bitterly divided them in June over whether family-owned corporations could mount religious objections to paying for women's contraceptives under the health care overhaul.
There was no such division evident in the courtroom today as several justices were openly skeptical of arguments made by a lawyer for the state of Arkansas in defense of a policy that allows moustaches for all inmates and a few days' growth for prisoners with skin conditions, but no beards.

The Obama administration, religious groups and atheists alike are supporting 39-year-old Gregory Holt, who is serving a life sentence.