ABA Journal

Religious Law

589 ABA Journal Religious Law articles.

Chicago’s refusal to allow ‘Hail Satan’ city council invocation violates First Amendment, suit says

Chicago has rebuffed requests by the Satanic Temple to deliver city council invocations for more than three years, violating the First Amendment in two ways, according to a lawsuit filed earlier this month.

After School Satan Club must be allowed to meet at school, federal judge says

A federal judge has ordered the Saucon Valley School District in Hellertown, Pennsylvania, to permit the After School Satan Club to meet in school facilities.

Supreme Court considers how far employers should go for religious accommodation

In recent years, the U.S. Supreme Court has shown great deference to claims of religious discrimination, and in particular, three justices have suggested that Trans World Airlines Inc. v. Hardison—a 1977 case in which the Supreme Court ruled against an employee seeking a religious accommodation to avoid working on Saturdays, his Sabbath—was wrongly decided.

Weekly Briefs: Justice Thomas responds to luxury trips story; suit filed over Idaho AG’s abortion referrals opinion

Justice Thomas: I was following colleagues’ advice on luxury trips

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas said he was following guidance from colleagues and others in the judiciary when he…

Insurers don’t have to provide free HIV-prevention drugs, some cancer screenings as result of federal judge’s ruling

A federal judge in Fort Worth, Texas, has blocked requirements for insurers to provide some preventive-care services for free, including drugs for HIV prevention and screenings for depression, high blood pressure, sexually transmitted diseases and some kinds of cancer.

Gorsuch, Thomas question ‘offended observer’ standing in rejected police prayer-vigil case

Justices Neil Gorsuch and Clarence Thomas suggested Monday that an “offended observer” does not have standing to sue for an alleged establishment clause violation, when the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a police prayer-vigil case.

Fired staff attorney awarded over $1.1M for firing after she sought time off for Jewish holidays

A fired attorney and magistrate in Ohio has been awarded more than $1.1 million in her First Amendment lawsuit against a judge who fired her after she sought time off for the Jewish High Holidays.

Supreme Court considers Title VII accommodation for Christian postal worker who wouldn’t work on Sundays

The U.S. Supreme Court agreed Friday to decide the case of a Christian postal worker who quit his job after he was disciplined for refusing to work on Sundays for religious reasons.

Chemerinsky: Expect another wave of significant rulings as the Supreme Court returns

Sometimes an especially momentous U.S. Supreme Court term is followed by a quieter year with fewer blockbuster decisions. But that is not what we should expect when the court hands down its rulings for this term in spring 2023. Once more, the court’s docket is filled with cases of great legal and social importance that will profoundly affect the lives of many people.

Supreme Court majority seems ready to rule for web designer who won’t make websites for same-sex weddings

A conservative majority of the U.S. Supreme Court appeared Monday to support a web designer who refuses to create custom websites for same-sex weddings because of religious objections.

Is designer’s refusal to create website for same-sex wedding free speech or illegal discrimination?

The case of 303 Creative v. Elenis is about whether the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act violates the First Amendment free speech rights of Lorie Smith and her wholly owned design firm.

Chemerinsky: An important week of arguments in the Supreme Court

Next Monday and Wednesday, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in two of the most important cases of the term. Each could have enormous implications for future litigation and for constitutional law.

7th Circuit rejects First Amendment challenge to Indiana fetal-remains law

A federal appeals court has rejected a First Amendment challenge to an Indiana law requiring abortion providers to dispose of fetal remains by burial or cremation or to give the remains to patients to dispose of as they please.

SCOTUS legal counsel defends Alito dinner with evangelical couple, says leak report is ‘uncorroborated’

The legal counsel for the U.S. Supreme Court is defending Justice Samuel Alito’s ethics following a report from the New York Times alleging that one of the justice's dinner companions later passed along information about the outcome of an upcoming Supreme Court decision to an anti-abortion crusader.

8th Circuit upholds food-safety law in suit by pastor who gave bologna sandwiches to homeless people

A pastor and his assistant who were ticketed but not prosecuted for handing out bologna sandwiches to homeless people have lost their First Amendment lawsuit against the city of St. Louis.

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