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
U.S. Supreme Court
Jan 2015
![Holt v. Hobbs](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Holt v. Hobbs
Whether Arkansas prison officials violated a federal law designed to protect the religious rights of prisoners when they denied petitioner an exemption to grow a one-half inch beard in compliance with his religious beliefs.
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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![Holt v. Hobbs](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
U.S. Supreme Court
Religious Liberty
Holt v. Hobbs
Whether Arkansas prison officials violated a federal law designed to protect the religious rights of prisoners when they denied petitioner an exemption to grow a one-half inch beard in compliance with his religious beliefs.
Jan 2015
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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U.S. Supreme Court
Dec 2014
![EEOC v. Abercrombie & Fitch](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
EEOC v. Abercrombie & Fitch
Whether an employer can decline to hire a job applicant based on her perceived religious needs without any consideration of possible accommodations unless the job applicant specifically raises the issue.
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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![EEOC v. Abercrombie & Fitch](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
U.S. Supreme Court
Religious Liberty
EEOC v. Abercrombie & Fitch
Whether an employer can decline to hire a job applicant based on her perceived religious needs without any consideration of possible accommodations unless the job applicant specifically raises the issue.
Dec 2014
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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Nov 2014
![Plaintiff Iknoor Singh](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2023/01/CASE15-IknoorSingh-1160x864-600x447.jpg)
Singh v. McHugh
VICTORY! Federal court rules Sikh college student must be allowed to enroll in Army ROTC without shaving his beard, cutting his hair, or removing his turban.
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![Plaintiff Iknoor Singh](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2023/01/CASE15-IknoorSingh-1160x864-600x447.jpg)
Religious Liberty
Singh v. McHugh
VICTORY! Federal court rules Sikh college student must be allowed to enroll in Army ROTC without shaving his beard, cutting his hair, or removing his turban.
Nov 2014
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U.S. Supreme Court
Oct 2014
![Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores & Conestoga Wood Specialties Corp. v. Burwell](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores & Conestoga Wood Specialties Corp. v. Burwell
Whether for-profit business corporations are entitled to an exemption under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act from the general requirement that employer health plans include coverage for contraceptive care.
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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![Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores & Conestoga Wood Specialties Corp. v. Burwell](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
U.S. Supreme Court
Religious Liberty
Reproductive Freedom
Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores & Conestoga Wood Specialties Corp. v. Burwell
Whether for-profit business corporations are entitled to an exemption under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act from the general requirement that employer health plans include coverage for contraceptive care.
Oct 2014
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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U.S. Supreme Court
May 2014
![Town of Greece v. Galloway](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Town of Greece v. Galloway
Whether the Establishment Clause prohibits legislative bodies from opening their meetings with sectarian prayer.
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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![Town of Greece v. Galloway](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
U.S. Supreme Court
Religious Liberty
Town of Greece v. Galloway
Whether the Establishment Clause prohibits legislative bodies from opening their meetings with sectarian prayer.
May 2014
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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