Religious Law

Supreme Court considers whether high school football coach has right to pray on the field

The case of Kennedy v. Bremerton School District arrives at a U.S. Supreme Court dominated by conservatives who have shown special solicitude to religious liberty claims in recent years.

Apr 21, 2022 11:11 AM CDT

Supreme Court allows US to discipline military officer who saw ‘sacramental quality’ in vaccine mandate

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday allowed the government to discipline a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Reserve while he appeals his vaccine refusal case.

Apr 19, 2022 9:30 AM CDT

Deputy who witnessed ‘skivvies’-clad colleague baptize woman after traffic stop can’t escape suit, federal judge rules

A woman who claims that she allowed a “skivvies”-clad Tennessee sheriff’s deputy to baptize her based on his promise of leniency can continue to pursue her lawsuit against another deputy who witnessed the “desacralized rite,” a federal judge has ruled.

Apr 13, 2022 1:18 PM CDT

GOP opposition blocks bill to name federal courthouse after Black judge, a ‘legal legend’

A measure to name a federal courthouse after the first Black judge on the Florida Supreme Court was recently blocked in the U.S. House of Representatives after one lawmaker found a news clip on a prayer ruling.

Apr 13, 2022 10:50 AM CDT

Chemerinsky: Supreme Court reflects nation’s deep divide over Constitution and religion

The U.S. Supreme Court has four important cases about religion on its docket. Each of these cases, individually and especially together, could bring about major changes in the law concerning the Constitution and religion, writes law dean Erwin Chemerinsky.

Apr 4, 2022 9:55 AM CDT

Supreme Court allows Navy to consider SEALs’ vaccine statuses; plaintiffs ‘treated shabbily,’ dissent says

The U.S. Supreme Court last week allowed the Navy to consider a vaccine refusal by 35 Special Warfare personnel when making decisions on their deployment and assignment.

Mar 28, 2022 12:34 PM CDT

Supreme Court rules for inmate who wants hands-on, out-loud prayer at his execution

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 8-1 Thursday for a Texas death row inmate who wanted his longtime Baptist pastor to lay hands on him and pray out loud during his execution.

Mar 24, 2022 3:27 PM CDT

Kentucky clerk who denied marriage licenses to same-sex couples can’t avoid liability for civil rights violations, judge rules

A federal judge in Kentucky has ruled that a former Rowan County, Kentucky, clerk who denied marriage licenses to same-sex couples cannot duck liability for violating their civil rights. But the court left it up to a jury to decide whether she should pay damages.

Mar 24, 2022 8:52 AM CDT

Supreme Court will decide whether web designer has free speech right to refuse service for same-sex weddings

The U.S. Supreme Court has taken up the case of a web designer who contends that she has a First Amendment right to refuse to provide online service for same-sex weddings.

Feb 22, 2022 2:16 PM CST

‘The good ship 5th Circuit is afire’: Majority invented ‘new Title VII sin’ in vaccine case, dissenter says

A federal appeals judge under fire for asking a U.S. Department of Justice lawyer to remove his mask during oral arguments took a different tack in a fiery dissent in a case involving United Airlines’ employee vaccine mandate.

Feb 17, 2022 3:32 PM CST

Judge on SCOTUS short list faces scrutiny for her stance for US in religious rights case

California Supreme Court Justice Leondra Kruger, a possible nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court, is facing scrutiny for the position that she took on behalf of the United States in a religious rights case involving a narcoleptic teacher before the Supreme Court.

Feb 10, 2022 10:55 AM CST

Supreme Court will hear case of praying football coach

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear the case of a high school football coach who lost his job after defying the school district’s orders to stop praying with students at the 50-yard line after games.

Jan 18, 2022 2:10 PM CST

Supreme Court will consider Christian group’s request to temporarily fly flag at Boston City Hall

The case of Shurtleff v. City of Boston, to be argued on Jan. 18, has become a bit of a big thing. It’s the latest test of religious expression to be heard by a U.S. Supreme Court that has been increasingly deferential in recent years to legal claims by religious conservatives.

Jan 13, 2022 1:16 PM CST

Chemerinsky: Expect a momentous year ahead for the Supreme Court

Conservatives look at 2022 in the U.S. Supreme Court with great anticipation, while liberals feel dread for what is likely to come. But all, on both sides of the political aisle, agree that 2022 is going to be a momentous year for the Supreme Court.

Jan 6, 2022 10:23 AM CST

Supreme Court doesn’t interfere with New York COVID-19 vaccine mandate, despite lack of religious exemption

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to block a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for health care workers in New York, even though the mandate does not include an exemption for those with religious objections.

Dec 14, 2021 8:54 AM CST