An unusual coalition of 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals judges slammed prison officials and state prosecutors Friday over their refusal to grant a condemned inmate’s request for a soul-purifying session in a Native American sweat lodge.

Judges Stephen Reinhardt, Alex Kozinski and Kim Wardlaw each dissented from the 9th Circuit’s denial of a rehearing requested by attorneys for Darrell Rich, who was executed March 15.