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
Religious Liberty
+2 Issues
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.
U.S. Supreme Court
May 2020
Religious Liberty
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.
U.S. Supreme Court
Jun 2018
Religious Liberty
LGBTQ Rights
Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission
Whether a business open to the public has a constitutional right to discriminate.
Oklahoma
May 2017
Religious Liberty
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.
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75 Religious Liberty Cases
Court Case
Oct 2013
Religious Liberty
+4 Issues
ACLU v. FBI - eGuardian FOIA Lawsuit
Government documents obtained by the ACLU show that nationwide programs that collect so-called "Suspicious Activity Reports" provide inadequate privacy safeguards and guidance on the definition of "suspicious activity," leading to violations of Americans' First Amendment and privacy rights, and to racial and religious profiling.
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Court Case
Oct 2013
Religious Liberty
+4 Issues
ACLU v. FBI - eGuardian FOIA Lawsuit
Government documents obtained by the ACLU show that nationwide programs that collect so-called "Suspicious Activity Reports" provide inadequate privacy safeguards and guidance on the definition of "suspicious activity," leading to violations of Americans' First Amendment and privacy rights, and to racial and religious profiling.
Oklahoma
Aug 2013
Religious Liberty
National Security
Muneer Awad v. Paul Ziriax, Oklahoma State Board of Elections, et al.
Last year, state legislators in Oklahoma placed an unprecedented, discriminatory proposal to amend the Oklahoma Constitution to target the religious practices of Muslims on the November ballot. That measure strictly prohibits state courts from using or even considering “Sharia” or “international” law in their decision making. Although sponsors freely admit that there have been absolutely no instances of so-called “Sharia” threats in Oklahoma, they officially labeled the proposal the “Save Our State Amendment,” and it ultimately passed with over 70 percent of the vote.
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Oklahoma
Aug 2013
Religious Liberty
National Security
Muneer Awad v. Paul Ziriax, Oklahoma State Board of Elections, et al.
Last year, state legislators in Oklahoma placed an unprecedented, discriminatory proposal to amend the Oklahoma Constitution to target the religious practices of Muslims on the November ballot. That measure strictly prohibits state courts from using or even considering “Sharia” or “international” law in their decision making. Although sponsors freely admit that there have been absolutely no instances of so-called “Sharia” threats in Oklahoma, they officially labeled the proposal the “Save Our State Amendment,” and it ultimately passed with over 70 percent of the vote.
New Hampshire
Jun 2013
Religious Liberty
National Security
Bill Duncan, et al. v. State of New Hampshire
The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of New Hampshire and the Americans United for Separation of Church and State are challenging a statewide tuition tax-credit program in New Hampshire that would divert taxpayer funds to private religious schools in violation of the state constitution. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of eight plaintiffs, including clergy, public education advocates and parents of public school children.
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New Hampshire
Jun 2013
Religious Liberty
National Security
Bill Duncan, et al. v. State of New Hampshire
The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of New Hampshire and the Americans United for Separation of Church and State are challenging a statewide tuition tax-credit program in New Hampshire that would divert taxpayer funds to private religious schools in violation of the state constitution. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of eight plaintiffs, including clergy, public education advocates and parents of public school children.
Court Case
Dec 2012
Religious Liberty
LGBTQ Rights
Elane Photography, LLC v. Vanessa Willock
The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of New Mexico have filed an amicus brief in the New Mexico Supreme Court in support of Vanessa Willock’s public accommodations suit against a photography studio that refuses to take pictures for same-sex wedding ceremonies.
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Court Case
Dec 2012
Religious Liberty
LGBTQ Rights
Elane Photography, LLC v. Vanessa Willock
The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of New Mexico have filed an amicus brief in the New Mexico Supreme Court in support of Vanessa Willock’s public accommodations suit against a photography studio that refuses to take pictures for same-sex wedding ceremonies.
Massachusetts
Dec 2012
Religious Liberty
+2 Issues
ACLU of Massachusetts v. Kathleen Sebelius, et al.
From April 2006 to October 2011, the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) $2.5 million to $4 million annually to fund organizations that provide direct services to trafficking victims under the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act. HHS does this knowing that USCCB prohibits, based on its religious beliefs, grantees from using any of the federal funds to provide or refer for contraceptive or abortion services.
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Massachusetts
Dec 2012
Religious Liberty
+2 Issues
ACLU of Massachusetts v. Kathleen Sebelius, et al.
From April 2006 to October 2011, the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) $2.5 million to $4 million annually to fund organizations that provide direct services to trafficking victims under the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act. HHS does this knowing that USCCB prohibits, based on its religious beliefs, grantees from using any of the federal funds to provide or refer for contraceptive or abortion services.