Religious Liberty
Tamer Mahmoud v. Monifa McKnight
On October 30, 2023, the ACLU and ACLU of Maryland filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit supporting the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) in its efforts to ensure that its English curriculum is LGBTQ-inclusive.
Status: Ongoing
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U.S. Supreme Court
Apr 2022
![FBI v. Fazaga Plaintiffs](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2023/01/Fazaga_scotus-1-Blog-600x400.jpg)
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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Oklahoma
May 2017
![Multi-faith symbols](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2023/01/web15_dem-antidiscrim-multifaith3-1160x864-600x447.jpg)
Fatihah v. Neal
The American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma, the national ACLU, and the Council on American-Islamic Relations Oklahoma Chapter filed a lawsuit against a "Muslim free" business on behalf of a U.S. Army Reserve member denied service. The lawsuit seeks equal access to public accommodations for Oklahomans of all faiths.
Status: Ongoing
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All Cases
72 Religious Liberty Cases
Jun 2018
![ACLU-NJ v. Hendricks](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
ACLU-NJ v. Hendricks
In 2013, the American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of New Jersey, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and Barry, Corrado & Grassi, P.C. filed suit challenging more than $11 million in state grants to religious institutions that train clergy. The lawsuit argues that the grants violate the state constitution and Law Against Discrimination.
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![ACLU-NJ v. Hendricks](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Religious Liberty
ACLU-NJ v. Hendricks
In 2013, the American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of New Jersey, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and Barry, Corrado & Grassi, P.C. filed suit challenging more than $11 million in state grants to religious institutions that train clergy. The lawsuit argues that the grants violate the state constitution and Law Against Discrimination.
Jun 2018
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Jun 2018
![Martin v. Houston](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Martin v. Houston
In September 2014, the American Civil Liberties Union and ACLU of Alabama filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of a pastor whose right to religious exercise was violated by a new Alabama law that targeted him personally and directly, and prevented him from pursuing his ministry and practicing his deeply held religious beliefs.
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![Martin v. Houston](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Religious Liberty
Martin v. Houston
In September 2014, the American Civil Liberties Union and ACLU of Alabama filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of a pastor whose right to religious exercise was violated by a new Alabama law that targeted him personally and directly, and prevented him from pursuing his ministry and practicing his deeply held religious beliefs.
Jun 2018
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Jun 2018
![LaRue v. Douglas County School District](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
LaRue v. Douglas County School District
In June 2015, the Colorado Supreme Court struck down a Douglas County School District voucher program, which would have secured public funds for students to attend private, mostly religious schools.
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![LaRue v. Douglas County School District](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Religious Liberty
LaRue v. Douglas County School District
In June 2015, the Colorado Supreme Court struck down a Douglas County School District voucher program, which would have secured public funds for students to attend private, mostly religious schools.
Jun 2018
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Jun 2018
![FFRF v. Concord Community Schools](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
FFRF v. Concord Community Schools
In October 2015, the ACLU, ACLU of Indiana, and Freedom From Religion Foundation represented a student and his father in a constitutional challenge to an Indiana public school’s annual “Christmas Spectacular.”
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![FFRF v. Concord Community Schools](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Religious Liberty
FFRF v. Concord Community Schools
In October 2015, the ACLU, ACLU of Indiana, and Freedom From Religion Foundation represented a student and his father in a constitutional challenge to an Indiana public school’s annual “Christmas Spectacular.”
Jun 2018
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Florida
May 2018
![Williamson, et al. v. Brevard County](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Williamson, et al. v. Brevard County
The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Florida, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and the Freedom From Religion Foundation filed a federal lawsuit challenging Brevard County's policy of excluding nontheists from offering pre-meeting invocations.
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![Williamson, et al. v. Brevard County](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Florida
Religious Liberty
Williamson, et al. v. Brevard County
The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Florida, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and the Freedom From Religion Foundation filed a federal lawsuit challenging Brevard County's policy of excluding nontheists from offering pre-meeting invocations.
May 2018
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