Prisoner wins right to a pork-free diet against the state of Texas

A federal appeals court says "it does matter what's on the plate." A convicted killer takes on the Texas prison system and wins.

Keith Cole is a convicted killer, serving a life prison term at the Stiles prison in Beaumont. He is also a member of the Baha'i faith, a religion that bans pork from a diet.

Roughly one-third of the meals served at the prison contain pork in one form or another. When Cole objected, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice said it does offer alternative menus such as vegetarian trays or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Cole wanted pork-less meat.

TDCJ said he could buy it himself at the commissary. The Courts said no. The prison system has to provide meals that contain porkless meat for as long as Cole is locked up.

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