Religious Law

11th Circuit rules for Southern Poverty Law Center in defamation suit over hate group designation

A federal appeals court has affirmed dismissal of a conservative Christian group’s lawsuit alleging that the Southern Poverty Law Center defamed the church by designating it a hate group.

Jul 29, 2021 9:34 AM CDT

Web designer who offers wedding websites can be compelled to serve same-sex couples, 10th Circuit says

A Colorado anti-discrimination law can be used to compel a website designer who wants to create wedding websites to offer her services to people celebrating same-sex marriages, a federal appeals court ruled Monday.

Jul 28, 2021 2:10 PM CDT

5th Circuit allows chaplain prayers in Texas court during appeal of establishment clause ruling

A federal judge likely erred when he banned chaplain prayers in a Texas courtroom, a federal appeals court ruled earlier this month.

Jul 21, 2021 12:40 PM CDT

Federal judge’s confirmation hearing a reminder of the importance of No Religious Test Clause

Last month, the U.S. Senate confirmed Zahid Quraishi as the first Muslim American federal judge in U.S. history.

Jul 13, 2021 9:45 AM CDT

SCOTUS in review: Kavanaugh is the median; Barrett, consensus justices play ‘the long game’

What are the takeaways from the most recent U.S. Supreme Court term? Several Supreme Court journalists are answering that question in stories that look at split decisions and consensus, the likely median justice and the justices most to the right.

Jul 7, 2021 10:50 AM CDT

State ban on tuition assistance at religion-teaching schools to be reviewed by Supreme Court

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday agreed to consider the constitutionality of a Maine tuition assistance program that can’t be used at schools that teach religion.

Jul 2, 2021 11:30 AM CDT

Supreme Court won’t hear case of Christian florist who refused to provide flowers for gay wedding

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday let stand a victory for a same-sex couple who were told by a Christian florist that she would not provide flowers for their wedding.

Jul 2, 2021 10:30 AM CDT

Supreme Court rules for Catholic foster agency that refuses to place children with same-sex couples

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Thursday that Philadelphia violated the free exercise clause when it refused to contract with a Catholic foster care agency that refuses to place children with same-sex couples.

Jun 17, 2021 10:01 AM CDT

DOJ says it can defend religious exemption that allows LGBTQ discrimination in education

The U.S. Department of Justice is opposing an attempt by Christian colleges to intervene in a lawsuit by asserting that it can defend a religious exemption that allows the schools to discriminate against LGBTQ students.

Jun 9, 2021 11:25 AM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Judge rules against courtroom prayer program; public comment sought on student loans

Judge rules against courtroom prayer program A federal judge in Texas has ruled against a Texas justice of the peace in a suit claiming that he violated the establishment clause by soliciting chaplains to deliver courtroom prayers at the opening of court proceedings. U.S. District Judge Kenneth Hoyt of the…

May 24, 2021 3:21 PM CDT

Justice Barrett has aligned most often in argued cases with these 2 SCOTUS justices

Justice Amy Coney Barrett, the U.S. Supreme Court’s newest justice, has aligned 100% of the time in argued cases with conservative Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil M. Gorsuch, according to an analysis by CNN reporter Joan Biskupic.

May 6, 2021 12:00 PM CDT

Can California ban state-funded travel to LGBTQ-discriminating states? 2 SCOTUS justices dissent to cert denial

The U.S. Supreme Court won’t hear a suit challenging California’s ban on state-funded travel to states that fail to ban LGBTQ discrimination.

Apr 26, 2021 11:26 AM CDT

Supreme Court’s most pro-religion justices since WWII sit on the current court, new study says

The U.S. Supreme Court has supported religion in 81.3% of the religious cases under the leadership of Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., a big jump from prior years.

Apr 6, 2021 9:33 AM CDT

Prof who refused to use transgender student’s preferred pronouns can pursue suit, 6th Circuit rules

The Cincinnati-based 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has reinstated a First Amendment lawsuit by a public college professor in Ohio who violated school policy by refusing to use a transgender student’s preferred pronouns.

Mar 31, 2021 12:00 PM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Christian baker faces trial in new bias case; city approves housing reparations

Christian baker faces new bias case A Christian baker is facing a new bias claim after persuading the U.S. Supreme Court that a Colorado agency showed impermissible hostility to his religious reasons for refusing to bake a cake for a same-sex wedding. The baker, Jack Phillips of Masterpiece Cakeshop, is…

Mar 23, 2021 4:19 PM CDT