Gipson

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 MICHAEL SHEPARD, No. 2:18-cv-0620 TLN CKD P Plaintiff, v. ORDER and FINDINGS AND

RECOMMENDATIONS

CONNIE GIPSON, Defendant. 16 Plaintiff is a California prisoner proceeding with a civil action. The claim which remains is for injunctive relief and arises under the First Amendment. Ms. Gipson, the Director of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) is the only defendant and she is sued in her official capacity. In his amended complaint, plaintiff asserts that he has sought to change his name for religious reasons through the CDCR inmate grievance process, but his requests have been denied. According to plaintiff he is Jewish and it is “essential for Jews to have a Jewish / Hebrew name.” Also, according to plaintiff, the defendant has discretion under California law to deny a request for a name change by a prisoner if permitting the name change would create a “threat to 26 …