Arlene's Flowers et al v. Washington et al
What's at Stake
After the Washington Supreme Court found that the refusal of Arlene’s Flowers to sell flowers to a gay couple violated Washington Law Against Discrimination and the Consumer Protection Act, the flower shop sought review by the Supreme Court of the United States. The US Supreme Court subsequently remanded to the WA Supreme Court and on June 6, 2019, the WA Supreme Court affirmed their earlier decision. On September 11, 2019, Arlene's Flowers filed to hear the case again, at the Supreme Court of the United States.
Summary
Curt Freed, a faculty member at Columbia Basin College, and Robert Ingersoll, a manager at Goodwill, have been a couple for almost nine years. They are engaged and are planning a wedding for September 2013. Having purchased goods from Arlene’s Flowers on many occasions, Ingersoll approached the florist on March 1 to arrange for flowers for the event. However, he was told that the business would not sell the couple flowers because of the owner’s religious beliefs.
The Washington Law Against Discrimination prohibits discrimination because of sexual orientation. It bars businesses from refusing to sell goods, merchandise, and services to any person because of their sexual orientation. The courts have found that businesses open to the general public may not violate anti-discrimination laws, even on the basis of sincerely held religious beliefs.
Filed in Benton County Superior Court, the lawsuit is seeking a court order barring the florist from discriminating against customers on the basis of sexual orientation and damages for the violation of the couple’s rights.
Update: The United States Supreme Court denied Arlene's Flowers's Petition for Writ of Certiorari on July 2, 2021.
Legal Documents
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11/18/2021
Joint Stipulation to Dismiss -
07/27/2021
Petition for Rehearing -
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09/24/2021
Petitioner's Supplemental Authority Letter
Arlene's Flowers et al v. Washington et alLegal DocumentsPetitioner's Supplemental Authority LetterDate Filed: 09/24/2021
Court: Supreme Court (U.S.)
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09/24/2021
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12/23/2019
Reply Brief of Petitioners -
12/06/2019
Brief in Opposition to Cert for the State of Washington -
12/06/2019
Brief in Opposition to Cert for Rob Ingersoll and Curt Freed -
10/15/2019
Amicus Briefs in Support of Petitioner -
- Amicus Brief for The Cato Institute et al.
- Amicus Brief of Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence
- Amicus Brief for Center for Religious Expression
- Amicus Brief for Concerned Women of America et al.
- Amicus Brief for The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention et al.
- Amicus Brief for First Amendment Scholars
- Amicus Brief for Foundation for Moral Law
- Amicus Brief for Members of Congress
- Amicus Brief for Samaritans Purse and The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
- Amicus Brief for the State of Arkansas
Arlene's Flowers et al v. Washington et alLegal DocumentsAmicus Brief for The Cato Institute et al.Date Filed: 10/14/2019
Court: Supreme Court (U.S.)
Arlene's Flowers et al v. Washington et alLegal DocumentsAmicus Brief of Center for Constitutional JurisprudenceDate Filed: 10/15/2019
Court: Supreme Court (U.S.)
Arlene's Flowers et al v. Washington et alLegal DocumentsAmicus Brief for Center for Religious ExpressionDate Filed: 10/15/2019
Court: Supreme Court (U.S.)
Arlene's Flowers et al v. Washington et alLegal DocumentsAmicus Brief for Concerned Women of America et al.Date Filed: 10/15/2019
Court: Supreme Court (U.S.)
Arlene's Flowers et al v. Washington et alLegal DocumentsAmicus Brief for The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention et al.Date Filed: 10/15/2019
Court: Supreme Court (U.S.)
Arlene's Flowers et al v. Washington et alLegal DocumentsAmicus Brief for First Amendment ScholarsDate Filed: 10/15/2019
Court: Supreme Court (U.S.)
Arlene's Flowers et al v. Washington et alLegal DocumentsAmicus Brief for Foundation for Moral LawDate Filed: 10/15/2019
Court: Supreme Court (U.S.)
Arlene's Flowers et al v. Washington et alLegal DocumentsAmicus Brief for Members of CongressDate Filed: 10/15/2019
Court: Supreme Court (U.S.)
Arlene's Flowers et al v. Washington et alLegal DocumentsAmicus Brief for Samaritans Purse and The Billy Graham Evangelistic AssociationDate Filed: 10/15/2019
Court: Supreme Court (U.S.)
Arlene's Flowers et al v. Washington et alLegal DocumentsAmicus Brief for the State of ArkansasDate Filed: 10/15/2019
Court: Supreme Court (U.S.)
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09/11/2019
Petition for Writ of Certiorari
Date Filed: 11/18/2021
Court: Supreme Court (U.S.)
Date Filed: 07/27/2021
Court: Supreme Court (U.S.)
Date Filed: 12/23/2019
Court: Supreme Court (U.S.)
Date Filed: 12/06/2019
Court: Supreme Court (U.S.)
Date Filed: 12/06/2019
Court: Supreme Court (U.S.)
Date Filed: 09/11/2019
Court: Supreme Court (U.S.)
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06/06/2019
Opinion on Remand -
03/05/2019
Amicus Briefs in Support of Plaintiffs-Respondents -
- Church-State Scholars
- Washington Businesses and Business Associations
Arlene's Flowers et al v. Washington et alLegal DocumentsChurch-State ScholarsDate Filed: 03/05/2019
Court: Supreme Court (Wash.) - Remanded
Arlene's Flowers et al v. Washington et alLegal DocumentsWashington Businesses and Business AssociationsDate Filed: 03/05/2019
Court: Supreme Court (Wash.) - Remanded
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01/14/2019
State Respondent's Opening Brief -
01/14/2019
Respondent's Opening Brief -
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02/13/2019
Appellant's Reply
Arlene's Flowers et al v. Washington et alLegal DocumentsAppellant's ReplyDate Filed: 02/13/2019
Court: Supreme Court (Wash.) - Remanded
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02/13/2019
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11/13/2018
Appellant's Opening Brief
Date Filed: 06/06/2019
Court: Supreme Court (Wash.) - Remanded
Date Filed: 01/14/2019
Court: Supreme Court (Wash.) - Remanded
Date Filed: 01/14/2019
Court: Supreme Court (Wash.) - Remanded
Date Filed: 11/13/2018
Court: Supreme Court (Wash.) - Remanded
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11/09/2017
Reply Brief of Petitioners -
10/20/2017
State of Washington's Brief in Opposition -
10/20/2017
Respondent's Brief in Opposition -
07/14/2017
Petition for Writ of Certiorari
Date Filed: 11/09/2017
Court: Supreme Court (U.S.)
Date Filed: 10/20/2017
Court: Supreme Court (U.S.)
Date Filed: 10/20/2017
Court: Supreme Court (U.S.)
Date Filed: 07/14/2017
Court: Supreme Court (U.S.)
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02/16/2017
Ingersoll v. Arlene's Flowers - Order -
02/08/2016
Amicus Briefs in Support of Respondents -
- Washington Businesses
- Professor Tobias B. Wolff
- Washington Employment Lawyers Association
- Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence
- NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc.
- National Center for Lesbian Rights, et al.
- Washington State Association for Justice
- Lambda Legal Legal Defense and Education Fund, Inc., et al.
- Anti-Defamation League and 26 Other Organizations
- Americans United for Separation of Church and State
Arlene's Flowers et al v. Washington et alLegal DocumentsWashington BusinessesDate Filed: 05/25/2016
Court: Supreme Court (Wash.)
Arlene's Flowers et al v. Washington et alLegal DocumentsProfessor Tobias B. WolffDate Filed: 09/28/2016
Court: Supreme Court (Wash.)
Arlene's Flowers et al v. Washington et alLegal DocumentsWashington Employment Lawyers AssociationDate Filed: 09/23/2016
Court: Supreme Court (Wash.)
Arlene's Flowers et al v. Washington et alLegal DocumentsCenter for Constitutional JurisprudenceDate Filed: 09/28/2016
Court: Supreme Court (Wash.)
Arlene's Flowers et al v. Washington et alLegal DocumentsNAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc.Date Filed: 02/08/2016
Court: Supreme Court (Wash.)
Arlene's Flowers et al v. Washington et alLegal DocumentsNational Center for Lesbian Rights, et al.Date Filed: 02/08/2016
Court: Supreme Court (Wash.)
Arlene's Flowers et al v. Washington et alLegal DocumentsWashington State Association for JusticeDate Filed: 07/07/2017
Court: Supreme Court (Wash.)
Arlene's Flowers et al v. Washington et alLegal DocumentsLambda Legal Legal Defense and Education Fund, Inc., et al.Date Filed: 02/08/2016
Court: Supreme Court (Wash.)
Arlene's Flowers et al v. Washington et alLegal DocumentsAnti-Defamation League and 26 Other OrganizationsDate Filed: 02/08/2016
Court: Supreme Court (Wash.)
Arlene's Flowers et al v. Washington et alLegal DocumentsAmericans United for Separation of Church and StateDate Filed: 02/08/2016
Court: Supreme Court (Wash.)
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02/05/2016
Amicus Briefs in Support of Appellants -
- Christian Legal Society, et al.
- National Religious Organizations
- The Frederick Douglas Foundation, et al.
- Adam J. MacLeod
- Legal Scholars in Support of Equality and Religious and Expressive Freedom
- The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty
- International Christian Photographers
- The Cato Institute
- Protecting Constitutional Freedoms, Inc.
- Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention
Arlene's Flowers et al v. Washington et alLegal DocumentsChristian Legal Society, et al.Date Filed: 03/07/2016
Court: Supreme Court (Wash.)
Arlene's Flowers et al v. Washington et alLegal DocumentsNational Religious OrganizationsDate Filed: 09/30/2016
Court: Supreme Court (Wash.)
Arlene's Flowers et al v. Washington et alLegal DocumentsThe Frederick Douglas Foundation, et al.Date Filed: 09/30/2016
Court: Supreme Court (Wash.)
Arlene's Flowers et al v. Washington et alLegal DocumentsAdam J. MacLeodDate Filed: 09/30/2016
Court: Supreme Court (Wash.)
Arlene's Flowers et al v. Washington et alLegal DocumentsLegal Scholars in Support of Equality and Religious and Expressive FreedomDate Filed: 09/30/2016
Court: Supreme Court (Wash.)
Arlene's Flowers et al v. Washington et alLegal DocumentsThe Becket Fund for Religious LibertyDate Filed: 02/05/2016
Court: Supreme Court (Wash.)
Arlene's Flowers et al v. Washington et alLegal DocumentsInternational Christian PhotographersDate Filed: 02/05/2016
Court: Supreme Court (Wash.)
Arlene's Flowers et al v. Washington et alLegal DocumentsThe Cato InstituteDate Filed: 02/06/2016
Court: Supreme Court (Wash.)
Arlene's Flowers et al v. Washington et alLegal DocumentsProtecting Constitutional Freedoms, Inc.Date Filed: 02/02/2016
Court: Supreme Court (Wash.)
Arlene's Flowers et al v. Washington et alLegal DocumentsEthics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist ConventionDate Filed: 02/11/2016
Court: Supreme Court (Wash.)
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02/05/2016
Ingersoll v. Arlene's Flowers - Reply Brief of Appellants -
12/24/2015
Ingersoll v. Arlene's Flowers - Attorney General Response -
12/23/2015
Ingersoll v. Arlene's Flowers - Brief of Respondents Ingersoll and Freed -
10/16/2015
Ingersoll v. Arlene's Flowers - Brief of Appellants
Date Filed: 02/16/2017
Court: Supreme Court (Wash.)
Date Filed: 02/05/2016
Court: Supreme Court (Wash.)
Date Filed: 12/24/2015
Court: Supreme Court (Wash.)
Date Filed: 12/23/2015
Court: Supreme Court (Wash.)
Date Filed: 10/16/2015
Court: Supreme Court (Wash.)
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02/18/2015
Ingersoll v. Arlene's Flowers - Order on Cross Motions for Summary Judgment -
10/11/2013
Ingersoll v Arlene’s Flowers - Complaint
Date Filed: 02/18/2015
Court: Superior Court of Washington (Benton County)
Date Filed: 10/11/2013
Court: Superior Court of Washington (Benton County)
Press Releases
ACLU Comment on Settlement of Arlene’s Flowers v. Ingersoll and Freed
Supreme Court Leaves in Place ACLU Victory on Behalf of Same-Sex Couple Turned Away From Flower Shop
Supreme Court Sends LGBT Discrimination Case Back to Washington State Supreme Court for Review
Washington State Supreme Court Hears Case of Gay Couple Discriminated Against by Florist
Court Rules Florist Discriminated Against Gay Couple by Refusing to Sell Flowers for Their Wedding
