A federal judge has ruled in favor of a Louisiana man who challenged a Virginia prison system policy that restricts the kind of CDs inmates can have.

U.S. District Judge James Spencer in Richmond granted a motion by Owen North of LeCompte, La., for summary judgment Tuesday.

At issue was a policy allowing inmates to have only approved music and faith-based spoken-word CDs, such as religious sermons. The policy prevented North from giving a Virginia inmate a spoken-word CD by writer Dylan Thomas as a Christmas gift.

Spencer ruled the policy violated North's First Amendment right of expression.

Prison officials claimed the restrictions served a valid government interest.

North filed a federal lawsuit last April. His friend, Shawn Goode, was a prisoner at Nottoway Correctional Center.