Using Religion to Discriminate
FBI v. Fazaga
In a case scheduled to be argued before the U.S. Supreme Court on November 8, 2021, three Muslim Americans are challenging the FBI’s secret spying on them and their communities based on their religion, in violation of the Constitution and federal law. In what will likely be a landmark case, the plaintiffs — Yassir Fazaga, Ali Uddin Malik, and Yasser Abdelrahim — insist that the FBI cannot escape accountability for violating their religious freedom by invoking “state secrets.” The plaintiffs are represented by the Center for Immigration Law and Policy at UCLA School of Law, the ACLU of Southern California, the American Civil Liberties Union, the Council for American Islamic Relations, and the law firm of Hadsell Stormer Renick & Dai.
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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U.S. Supreme Court
May 2020
![Little Sisters of the Poor v. Pennsylvania and New Jersey/Trump v. Pennsylvania and New Jersey](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Little Sisters of the Poor v. Pennsylvania and New Jersey/Trump v. Pennsylvania and New Jersey
Whether the government had statutory authority under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 to expand the conscience exemption to the contraceptive-coverage mandate.
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U.S. Supreme Court
Jun 2018
![David Mullins and Charlie Craig](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2023/01/WEB18-charlie-david-1160x864-600x447.jpg)
Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission
Whether a business open to the public has a constitutional right to discriminate.
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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All Cases
13 Using Religion to Discriminate Cases
U.S. Supreme Court
Feb 2020
![Our Lady of Guadalupe School v. Morrissey-Berru and St. James School v. Biel](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Our Lady of Guadalupe School v. Morrissey-Berru and St. James School v. Biel
Whether certain teachers at religious schools are covered by the “ministerial exception,” which gives religious institutions the constitutional authority to discriminate in the selection of faith leaders.
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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![Our Lady of Guadalupe School v. Morrissey-Berru and St. James School v. Biel](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
U.S. Supreme Court
Using Religion to Discriminate
Our Lady of Guadalupe School v. Morrissey-Berru and St. James School v. Biel
Whether certain teachers at religious schools are covered by the “ministerial exception,” which gives religious institutions the constitutional authority to discriminate in the selection of faith leaders.
Feb 2020
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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U.S. Supreme Court
Jan 2019
![April Miller and Karen Roberts](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2023/01/lib15-millervdavis-1160x864-600x447.jpg)
Miller v. Davis
Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s historic marriage equality ruling in 2015, Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis refused to issue any marriage licenses because of her personal, religious opposition to marriage for same-sex couples. The ACLU and the ACLU of Kentucky won a preliminary injunction on behalf of Rowan County couples enabling them to marry.
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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![April Miller and Karen Roberts](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2023/01/lib15-millervdavis-1160x864-600x447.jpg)
U.S. Supreme Court
Using Religion to Discriminate
Religious Liberty
Miller v. Davis
Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s historic marriage equality ruling in 2015, Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis refused to issue any marriage licenses because of her personal, religious opposition to marriage for same-sex couples. The ACLU and the ACLU of Kentucky won a preliminary injunction on behalf of Rowan County couples enabling them to marry.
Jan 2019
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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Jun 2016
![ACLU of Northern California v. Burwell](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
ACLU of Northern California v. Burwell
The ACLU, the ACLU of Northern California, and the ACLU of Southern California filed a lawsuit against the federal government for awarding millions of dollars annually to organizations that provide care, including access to medical care, to unaccompanied immigrant minors. The government authorizes some of these organizations to refuse on religious grounds to follow the law that requires them to provide these young people with access to contraception and abortion, even if the minor has been raped.
Status: Ongoing
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![ACLU of Northern California v. Burwell](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Using Religion to Discriminate
+3 Issues
ACLU of Northern California v. Burwell
The ACLU, the ACLU of Northern California, and the ACLU of Southern California filed a lawsuit against the federal government for awarding millions of dollars annually to organizations that provide care, including access to medical care, to unaccompanied immigrant minors. The government authorizes some of these organizations to refuse on religious grounds to follow the law that requires them to provide these young people with access to contraception and abortion, even if the minor has been raped.
Jun 2016
Status: Ongoing
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Mississippi
May 2016
![Couple in Mississppi lawsuit](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2022/05/mississipicouple-600x600.jpg)
Alford v. Moulder
The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Mississippi today filed a lawsuit to challenge HB 1523, the anti-LGBT law that passed this spring. The lawsuit, which targets the Registrar of Vital Records, was filed on behalf of ACLU of Mississippi members and Nykolas Alford and Stephen Thomas, a gay couple who are engaged to be married and face discrimination as a result of this law.
Status: Closed
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![Couple in Mississppi lawsuit](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2022/05/mississipicouple-600x600.jpg)
Mississippi
Using Religion to Discriminate
Religious Liberty
Alford v. Moulder
The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Mississippi today filed a lawsuit to challenge HB 1523, the anti-LGBT law that passed this spring. The lawsuit, which targets the Registrar of Vital Records, was filed on behalf of ACLU of Mississippi members and Nykolas Alford and Stephen Thomas, a gay couple who are engaged to be married and face discrimination as a result of this law.
May 2016
Status: Closed
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Dec 2012
![Elane Photography, LLC v. Vanessa Willock](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Elane Photography, LLC v. Vanessa Willock
The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of New Mexico have filed an amicus brief in the New Mexico Supreme Court in support of Vanessa Willock’s public accommodations suit against a photography studio that refuses to take pictures for same-sex wedding ceremonies.
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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![Elane Photography, LLC v. Vanessa Willock](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Using Religion to Discriminate
Religious Liberty
Elane Photography, LLC v. Vanessa Willock
The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of New Mexico have filed an amicus brief in the New Mexico Supreme Court in support of Vanessa Willock’s public accommodations suit against a photography studio that refuses to take pictures for same-sex wedding ceremonies.
Dec 2012
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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