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
Mar 2018
![Lund, et al. v. Rowan County](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Lund, et al. v. Rowan County
The ACLU of North Carolina and American Civil Liberties Union filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of three Rowan County citizens, demanding that the Rowan County Board of Commissioners stop its unconstitutional practice of opening government meetings with coercive legislator-led prayers that alienate those who do not participate.
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![Lund, et al. v. Rowan County](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Religious Liberty
Lund, et al. v. Rowan County
The ACLU of North Carolina and American Civil Liberties Union filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of three Rowan County citizens, demanding that the Rowan County Board of Commissioners stop its unconstitutional practice of opening government meetings with coercive legislator-led prayers that alienate those who do not participate.
Mar 2018
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Dec 2017
![Cole v. Webster Parish School Board](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Cole v. Webster Parish School Board
The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Louisiana are challenging the Webster Parish School District’s widespread practice of subjecting students to school-sponsored Christian prayer, proselytizing, and other religious rituals. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Christy Cole, a parent of a Webster Parish student, and her daughter, K.C., who attends Lakeside Junior and Senior High in Sibley.
Status: Ongoing
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![Cole v. Webster Parish School Board](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Religious Liberty
Cole v. Webster Parish School Board
The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Louisiana are challenging the Webster Parish School District’s widespread practice of subjecting students to school-sponsored Christian prayer, proselytizing, and other religious rituals. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Christy Cole, a parent of a Webster Parish student, and her daughter, K.C., who attends Lakeside Junior and Senior High in Sibley.
Dec 2017
Status: Ongoing
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U.S. Supreme Court
Jun 2017
![Trinity Lutheran Church v. Pauley](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Trinity Lutheran Church v. Pauley
Whether a state may exclude houses of worship from a cash grant program in order to avoid any taxpayer subsidy for religion.
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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![Trinity Lutheran Church v. Pauley](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
U.S. Supreme Court
Religious Liberty
Trinity Lutheran Church v. Pauley
Whether a state may exclude houses of worship from a cash grant program in order to avoid any taxpayer subsidy for religion.
Jun 2017
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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U.S. Supreme Court
Jun 2017
![Advocate Health Care Network v. Stapleton](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Advocate Health Care Network v. Stapleton
Whether pension plans established by religiously affiliated health care providers are exempt as “church plans” from federal law protecting employees’ pension rights and retirement benefits.
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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![Advocate Health Care Network v. Stapleton](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
U.S. Supreme Court
Religious Liberty
Advocate Health Care Network v. Stapleton
Whether pension plans established by religiously affiliated health care providers are exempt as “church plans” from federal law protecting employees’ pension rights and retirement benefits.
Jun 2017
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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