ver a year after agreeing to hear the case on January 15, 2016, the Supreme Court has finally set a date for the oral arguments in Trinity Lutheran Church v. Pauley.
Category: Legal Issues
Washington court finds no free exercise right to ignore antidiscrimination law
The Supreme Court of the State of Washington has rejected a florist’s claim that state anti-discrimination statutes did not apply to her religion-based refusal to sell flowers for use in a same-sex wedding ceremony.
Op-Ed: How Abolishing the Johnson Amendment Would Harm Religious Liberty
By Gregory W. Hamilton – Repealing the Johnson Amendment is not about “free speech.” It is about giving politicians tax-deductible donations and endorsements in return for power.
Writing competition asks law students to write model Supreme Court opinion in Trinity Lutheran Church v. Pauley
LOS ANGELES, CA – While most legal writing competitions ask participants to pick a side, Founders First Freedom is asking for much more in its inaugural law student writing competition. Participating students will review pleadings and amicus briefs in a case currently before the United States Supreme Court, Trinity Lutheran Church v. Pauley, and write model…
What does the Trump win mean for religious liberty?
Donald Trump’s transition team is making plans to occupy the White House. What does this mean for religious liberty?
Georgia drops subpoena request for laypastor’s sermons and Bible
After over 40,000 people signed a petition expressing outrage at the State of Georgia for demanding Seventh-day Adventist lay pastor Dr. Eric Walsh’s sermon notes, transcripts, and Bible, the state has withdrawn the subpoena.
Iowa church drops transgender restroom lawsuit
[dc]L[/dc]ast week the Fort Des Moines Church of Christ voluntarily dismissed a lawsuit against the state and the city of Des Moines over language in a brochure that they interpreted as interpreted as requiring churches to accommodate transgender bathroom access. The law prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, but the Iowa Civil…
Defense budget bill would roll back Obama’s 2014 anti-discrimination order
President Obama threatens to veto defense budget bill if language permitting discrimination on basis of religion or sexual orientation remains.
U.S. Civil Rights Commission report gives free exercise of religion second-tier status
In a stunning report, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Chairman Martin Castro attacked the Religious Freedom Restoration Act at both the state and federal level, challenged the terms “religious liberty” and “religious liberty” as code for intolerance, and argued that free exercise rights should yield to other civil rights if they come into conflict.
“Ministerial exception” preempts discrimination lawsuit brought by injured church school teacher
On August 15, 2016, a Federal Court in Maryland upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit brought by a 56-year-old injured music teacher at a Seventh-day Adventist school on the basis that, as a “minister,” she had no right to pursue federal claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and the Family and Medical Leave Act.