Religious Law

Chemerinsky: A year of significant developments at the Supreme Court

“Sometimes in the past, a blockbuster term—like the one a year ago—is followed by a quieter one. But that was not true this year. It was another amazing year in the Supreme Court,” writes Erwin Chemerinsky, University of California at Berkeley law dean.

Dec 19, 2023 11:08 AM CST

Anti-Zionist policies by student groups at UC Berkeley Law fostered harassment and hatred, suit alleges

A lawsuit filed Tuesday alleges that anti-Zionist policies by student groups at the University of California at Berkeley School of Law violate federal law and the U.S. Constitution.

Dec 1, 2023 10:00 AM CST

Jewish inmate doesn’t have to show ‘substantial burden’ on religious beliefs to prevail on free exercise claim, 2nd Circuit says

A federal appeals court has ruled that a former inmate who alleged that prison officials cut short his observance of the Jewish holiday of Shavuot doesn't have to show a “substantial burden” on his religious beliefs to prevail on his First Amendment free exercise claim.

Nov 28, 2023 12:10 PM CST

Christian student will receive $150K in suit alleging school meditation program included Hindu ritual

A former public school student who alleged that she was coerced to participate in a school meditation ritual that violated her Christian religious beliefs has accepted a $150,000 offer of judgment from the Chicago Board of Education and the foundation that developed the program.

Nov 7, 2023 9:08 AM CST

Justices drop ‘respectfully’ in some dissents, but SCOTUS rancor is tamer than in past

The usual phrase used by U.S. Supreme Court dissenters is “I respectfully dissent.” But some justices dropped “respectfully” in major dissents last term and in their joint dissent in the 2022 Supreme Court decision overturning the right to abortion.

Oct 3, 2023 12:06 PM CDT

Lawyers avoid mandatory religious liberty instruction, for now

Lawyers for Southwest Airlines didn’t have to attend religious liberty training Tuesday as a result of a temporary administrative stay granted by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at New Orleans.

Sep 26, 2023 3:50 PM CDT

School must recognize Christian student club with anti-same-sex-marriage affirmation, en banc appeals court says

An en banc federal appeals court has ordered a California school district to reinstate a Fellowship of Christian Athletes club that was not recognized because of its required anti-same-sex-marriage affirmation for student leaders.

Sep 18, 2023 8:19 AM CDT

Chemerinsky: These recent Supreme Court decisions have sparked a wave of litigation

The U.S. Supreme Court’s October 2022 term ended just a couple of months ago, but it’s already apparent that the decisions are leading to a great deal of litigation. What are the major issues left open by the cases that are likely to be litigated in state and federal courts?

Aug 30, 2023 8:17 AM CDT

Religious act may protect Jehovah’s Witness who refused psychiatric meds before trial, 5th Circuit says

A federal judge should consider the religious claims of a defendant who has refused to take psychiatric medications to become competent for trial on a charge of threatening a New Orleans judge, a federal appeals court has ruled.

Aug 15, 2023 2:09 PM CDT

2nd Circuit rejects free exercise challenge to law ending religious exemptions for immunization mandate

A Connecticut law ending a religious exemption for required vaccinations does not violate constitutional guarantees, including the First Amendment right to free exercise of religion, a federal appeals court has held.

Aug 9, 2023 8:41 AM CDT

Sanctioned lawyers must take classes from conservative Christian nonprofit, federal judge rules

A federal judge in Dallas has ordered three in-house lawyers for Southwest Airlines to attend classes with Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative legal advocacy group, to purge itself of civil contempt for "inverting" the language in a court-ordered message.

Aug 9, 2023 8:35 AM CDT

Chemerinsky: A year of significant developments at the Supreme Court

Anti-Zionist policies by student groups at UC Berkeley Law fostered harassment and hatred, suit alleges

Jewish inmate doesn’t have to show ‘substantial burden’ on religious beliefs to prevail on free exercise claim, 2nd Circuit says

Christian student will receive $150K in suit alleging school meditation program included Hindu ritual

Justices drop ‘respectfully’ in some dissents, but SCOTUS rancor is tamer than in past

Lawyers avoid mandatory religious liberty instruction, for now

School must recognize Christian student club with anti-same-sex-marriage affirmation, en banc appeals court says

Chemerinsky: These recent Supreme Court decisions have sparked a wave of litigation

Religious act may protect Jehovah’s Witness who refused psychiatric meds before trial, 5th Circuit says

2nd Circuit rejects free exercise challenge to law ending religious exemptions for immunization mandate

Sanctioned lawyers must take classes from conservative Christian nonprofit, federal judge rules

With one exception, Trump-appointed appeals judges are more likely to vote in favor of religious liberty, new study says

Judge who won’t marry same-sex couples cites Supreme Court ruling for Christian web designer

Chemerinsky: Supreme Court once again moves the law significantly to the right

Supreme Court rules for Christian businesswoman who won’t make websites for same-sex weddings

Topics: Career & Practice

ICC war crimes prosecutor takes leave amid sexual misconduct inquiry

Your Voice

Orphan Socks: A reflection on motherhood, identity and healing

Podcasts

To buy or not to buy? For Cleary Gottlieb, acquiring an AI company was a no-brainer

Religious Law

Most Read

Topics: Career & Practice

Your Voice

Podcasts