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
Puerto Rico
Jul 2016
![Marrero-Méndez v. Pesquera](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Marrero-Méndez v. Pesquera
In 2013, the ACLU and ACLU of Puerto Rico filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of Officer Alvin Marrero-Méndez, a 13-year veteran of the Puerto Rico Police Department.
Status: Ongoing
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![Marrero-Méndez v. Pesquera](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Puerto Rico
Religious Liberty
Criminal Law Reform
Marrero-Méndez v. Pesquera
In 2013, the ACLU and ACLU of Puerto Rico filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of Officer Alvin Marrero-Méndez, a 13-year veteran of the Puerto Rico Police Department.
Jul 2016
Status: Ongoing
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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)
Religious Liberty
+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
Religious Liberty
LGBTQ Rights
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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Oklahoma
Jun 2015
![Prescott v. Oklahoma Capitol Preservation Commission](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Prescott v. Oklahoma Capitol Preservation Commission
The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Oklahoma Foundation have filed a lawsuit on behalf of several Oklahomans challenging the constitutionality of the state’s Ten Commandments Monument.
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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![Prescott v. Oklahoma Capitol Preservation Commission](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Oklahoma
Religious Liberty
Prescott v. Oklahoma Capitol Preservation Commission
The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Oklahoma Foundation have filed a lawsuit on behalf of several Oklahomans challenging the constitutionality of the state’s Ten Commandments Monument.
Jun 2015
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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Michigan
Feb 2015
![Marshall v. City of Warren](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Marshall v. City of Warren
The American Civil Liberties Union, The ACLU of Michigan, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and Freedom from Religion Foundation have filed a federal lawsuit challenging the city of Warren's ban on an atheist booth in a city hall atrium where the city has allowed a prayer station.
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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![Marshall v. City of Warren](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Michigan
Religious Liberty
Marshall v. City of Warren
The American Civil Liberties Union, The ACLU of Michigan, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and Freedom from Religion Foundation have filed a federal lawsuit challenging the city of Warren's ban on an atheist booth in a city hall atrium where the city has allowed a prayer station.
Feb 2015
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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