Taylor

FACTS AND HISTORY OF THE PROCEEDINGS

Taylor is a prisoner in the custody of the Department and has been imprisoned for many years in several Department prisons. In a declaration filed in this action, Taylor alleges he is a follower of the religion Thelema, and that a religious exercise he follows under that religion is “the Wheel of Love Ceremony.” This ceremony takes place in his cell during which he places certain tobacco products in the four corners of his cell. He alleges that placing the tobacco in his cell during the Ceremony is intended to keep negative energy out of the cell. We note that over the years, Taylor has filed multiple petitions for writs of habeas corpus in different trial courts seeking to compel various prison personnel and agents of the Department to provide him access to tobacco for use in the Ceremony. We need not summarize his mixed success with those petitions. Taylor filed this action for mandate in December 2021. The Director demurred to the first petition and the trial court sustained the demurrer. On October 3, 2022, Taylor filed an amended verified petition for writ of mandate. In the amended petition, Taylor sought to compel the Director to make…