Religious Law

Churches are now eligible for disaster aid; FEMA changed policy after lawsuits

Churches are no longer excluded from disaster aid as a result of a policy change by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. FEMA announced the policy change earlier this month and said it is retroactive for disasters on or after Aug. 23. FEMA said churches can obtain the aid if they…

Jan 10, 2018 1:23 PM CST

Swing justice Kennedy lends support to both sides in case of gay couple denied a wedding cake

Justice Anthony M. Kennedy made comments supporting both sides during oral arguments on Tuesday in the case of a gay couple denied a wedding cake by a Christian baker with religious objections.

Dec 5, 2017 12:37 PM CST

Is a Christmas tree in a public park a secular symbol? ABA Legal Fact Check weighs in

A village attorney in Illinois had to weigh Supreme Court precedent when he concluded a Christmas tree in a public park was a secular symbol, according to ABA Legal Fact Check. Village attorney Charles Marino of Mundelein provided that answer in response to a resident’s request to place a Hanukkah…

Dec 4, 2017 4:20 PM CST

Inmate who said he needs stuffed animals to meditate may pursue religious claim, 2nd Circuit rules

A federal appeals court has ruled for a pro se inmate who claimed stuffed animals were necessary for the practice of his religion.

Nov 14, 2017 7:00 AM CST

Supreme Court to review law requiring notices on free abortions at pregnancy-service centers

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday agreed to review a California law that requires licensed pregnancy-related medical clinics to post notices about free and low-cost contraception and abortion services.

Nov 13, 2017 9:48 AM CST

ABA urges SCOTUS to rule against baker who refused to make wedding cake for gay couple

The ABA has filed an amicus brief supporting a gay couple and the Colorado Civil Rights Commission in their case against a Christian baker who refused to make a wedding cake for the couple. The ABA brief, filed Monday, urges the Supreme Court to rule that Colorado can constitutionally apply its public accommodations law to the baker and other commercial enterprises, according to a press release.

Oct 30, 2017 2:23 PM CDT

Second federal judge partly blocks Trump’s third travel ban

A federal judge in Maryland has become the second federal judge to grant a nationwide injunction blocking part of President Donald Trump’s third travel ban.

Oct 18, 2017 8:50 AM CDT

Hawaii federal judge issues nationwide injunction blocking Trump’s third travel ban

A federal judge in Hawaii on Tuesday mostly blocked the third version of President Donald Trump’s travel ban, which was set to take effect Wednesday.

Oct 17, 2017 2:15 PM CDT

Supreme Court dismisses a pending challenge to Trump’s second travel ban

The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday evening dismissed as moot a pending challenge to the second version of President Donald Trump’s travel ban.

Oct 11, 2017 8:48 AM CDT

Justice Department tells Supreme Court to drop travel ban case because it is moot

The U.S. Justice Department on Thursday told the U.S. Supreme Court it should drop a pending challenge to the second version of President Donald Trump’s travel ban because it has been replaced with a third and substantially different one. The Justice Department said the case is moot, report the New…

Oct 6, 2017 8:49 AM CDT

Third version of Trump’s travel ban is targeted in 2 new lawsuits

Two new lawsuits filed on Monday target President Donald Trump’s latest version of the travel ban that restricts travel to the United States from eight countries, including six predominantly Muslim nations.

Oct 3, 2017 2:43 PM CDT

Dozens of amicus briefs support Christian bakery owner who refused to make cake for gay wedding

Dozens of amicus briefs have been filed in support of the owner of a Christian bakery who refused to make a wedding cake for a gay couple. SCOTUSblog lists more than 50 amicus briefs filed in the Supreme Court case, Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission. Forty-six briefs were…

Oct 2, 2017 12:38 PM CDT

ACLU plans to amend lawsuit to challenge latest version of travel ban

The American Civil Liberties Union is seeking to amend an existing lawsuit to challenge President Donald Trump’s third version of his travel ban. The ACLU and its partner organizations are also seeking a preliminary injunction to block the latest version of the ban, according to a letter to a Maryland…

Sep 29, 2017 4:10 PM CDT

Baker who refused to make wedding cake for gay couple is backed by Justice Department in SCOTUS case

The U.S. Justice Department on Thursday filed a U.S. Supreme Court brief siding with a Christian bakery owner who refused to make a wedding cake for a gay couple. The Justice Department said that Jack Phillips, owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop, can’t be forced to make a cake that violates his…

Sep 7, 2017 5:18 PM CDT

3 Texas churches sue FEMA over exclusion from disaster relief

Three churches in Texas have filed a lawsuit seeking equal access to disaster relief from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to repair their buildings after Hurricane Harvey. The Becket religious liberty group filed the suit on behalf of three churches who say FEMA violates the free exercise clause when it…

Sep 6, 2017 12:05 PM CDT