In the Courts - Christian Legal Society

Current Cases

Apache Stronghold v. United States

Western Apaches have lived, worshipped on, and cared for Oak Flat and surrounding land since before history began to be recorded. Oak Flat is of paramount significance for their prayer and sacred…

Legal Issue(s): Conscience Protections
Court: The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
Case Status: Active
Center's Role: Amicus

Smith v. Ward

For decades, the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) has protected the religious freedom of inmates. It has enabled Jewish inmates to obey kosher diets, Catholics to access to important…

Legal Issue(s): Conscience Protections
Court: Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals
Case Status: Cert. Denied
Center's Role: Amicus

Thai Meditation Association v. City of Mobile

The Thai Meditation Association of Alabama bought a large wooded lot in a residential section of Mobile, Alabama, on which it wished to build a small Buddhist meditation center. The meditation association…

Legal Issue(s): Conscience Protections
Court: Eleventh Circuit
Case Status: Active
Center's Role: Amicus

Young Israel v. Hillsborough Regional Transit Authority

For the last fourteen years, Young Israel has hosted a community celebration called “Chanukah on Ice.” This family-friendly event features ice-skating, food, music, a raffle, and the lighting of an ice-sculpted menorah—one of the central symbols of Chanukah. In…

Legal Issue(s): Conscience Protections
Court: United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida
Case Status: Active
Center's Role: Amicus

Bostock v. Clayton County

On June 15, 2020, the United States Supreme Court issued its decision in the trio of Title VII cases (Bostock, Harris Funeral Homes, and Zarda). In a 6-3 decision with Justice Gorsuch…

Legal Issue(s): Conscience Protections
Court: United States Supreme Court
Case Status: Success
Center's Role: Amicus

Kennedy v. Bremerton School District

Coach Joe Kennedy was an assistant football coach for Bremerton High School, who, after his first football game in 2008, waited until the players had cleared the field before he took a…

Legal Issue(s): Conscience Protections
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Case Status: Success
Center's Role: Amicus

Groff v. Dejoy

Gerald Groff began working for the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) in 2012. In 2013, USPS contracted with Amazon to deliver packages, including on Sundays. Groff’s religious beliefs prohibit working on Sunday, and…

Legal Issue(s): Conscience Protections
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Case Status: Success
Center's Role: Amicus

303 Creative v. Elenis

Colorado passed a public accommodations law that would require certain service providers to communicate messages inconsistent with their beliefs. This law would require Ms. Smith to design websites for same-sex marriages, despite that…

Legal Issue(s): Conscience Protections
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Case Status: Success
Center's Role: Amicus

Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission v. Woods

Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission was sued by an applicant for a lawyer position with its legal aid clinic who admitted that he did not agree with the Mission’s religious beliefs. The Mission…

Legal Issue(s): Conscience Protections
Court: Washington Supreme Court
Case Status: Active
Center's Role: Amicus

Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Human Rights Commission

Jack Phillips is a Christian cake artist who owns Masterpiece Cakeshop outside Denver, Colorado. In 2012, a same-sex couple asked Jack to bake a cake for their wedding celebration. Phillips regularly serves…

Legal Issue(s): Conscience Protections
Court: United States Supreme Court
Case Status: Success
Center's Role: Amicus