The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has affirmed a preliminary injunction against Washington state officials. This ruling prevents the enforcement of the Washington Law Against Discrimination (WLAD) against the Union Gospel Mission of Yakima. The court held that the First Amendment’s church autonomy doctrine extends beyond the “ministerial exception”. It protects a religious organization’s decision to hire only co-religionists for non-ministerial roles—such as IT technicians or operations assistants—when that decision is based on a sincerely held religious belief. The court found that internal management decisions regarding personnel are essential to a religious institution’s central mission. This decision clarifies that religious nonprofits generally may require all employees to adhere to their code of conduct and beliefs without government interference.
Case: Union Gospel Mission of Yakima Washington v. Nick Brown, et al.
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (No. 24-7246)
Date Filed: January 6, 2026
Link: [24-7246.pdf]
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