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.
All Cases
75 Religious Liberty Cases
Court Case
Aug 2012
Religious Liberty
Anderson v. Chesterfield County School District
The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of South Carolina have filed a lawsuit challenging a pervasive practice of school-sponsored prayer, preaching and religious activities in the Chesterfield County School District. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of a student and his father (both non-believers) who have been ostracized for their objection to repeated official religious events and activities at New Heights Middle School.
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Court Case
Aug 2012
Religious Liberty
Anderson v. Chesterfield County School District
The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of South Carolina have filed a lawsuit challenging a pervasive practice of school-sponsored prayer, preaching and religious activities in the Chesterfield County School District. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of a student and his father (both non-believers) who have been ostracized for their objection to repeated official religious events and activities at New Heights Middle School.
Court Case
Jul 2012
Religious Liberty
DOES v. Enfield
In the spring of 2010, officials at the Connecticut-based Enfield Public Schools decided to hold their graduation ceremonies at First Cathedral, a Christian church. The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Connecticut and Americans United for Separation of Church and State brought a lawsuit in federal court charging that the Enfield Public Schools' decision is an unconstitutional government endorsement of religion.
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Court Case
Jul 2012
Religious Liberty
DOES v. Enfield
In the spring of 2010, officials at the Connecticut-based Enfield Public Schools decided to hold their graduation ceremonies at First Cathedral, a Christian church. The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Connecticut and Americans United for Separation of Church and State brought a lawsuit in federal court charging that the Enfield Public Schools' decision is an unconstitutional government endorsement of religion.
Court Case
May 2012
Religious Liberty
Jewish War Veterans of the USA v. Hagel/Trunk v. City of San Diego
In 2013, a federal judge ruled from the bench upholding the Ninth Circuit's ruling and ordering that the cross must come down.
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Court Case
May 2012
Religious Liberty
Jewish War Veterans of the USA v. Hagel/Trunk v. City of San Diego
In 2013, a federal judge ruled from the bench upholding the Ninth Circuit's ruling and ordering that the cross must come down.
Missouri
Jan 2012
Religious Liberty
Hunter v. Salem Public Library Board of Trustees
The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Eastern Missouri have filed a lawsuit charging the Salem Public Library and its board of trustees with unconstitutionally blocking access to websites discussing minority religions by improperly classifying them as “occult” or “criminal.”
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Missouri
Jan 2012
Religious Liberty
Hunter v. Salem Public Library Board of Trustees
The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Eastern Missouri have filed a lawsuit charging the Salem Public Library and its board of trustees with unconstitutionally blocking access to websites discussing minority religions by improperly classifying them as “occult” or “criminal.”
Court Case
Dec 2011
Religious Liberty
LGBTQ Rights
Keeton v. Anderson-Wiley
Jennifer Keeton, a student at Augusta State University (ASU), sought a court order requiring ASU to reinstate her in a graduate-level counseling program even though she insisted on a right – rooted in her religious beliefs – to counsel lesbian, gay and bisexual clients that being gay is immoral. ASU's counseling program requires its graduate students to adhere to the American Counseling Association's Code of Ethics, which prohibits counselors from discriminating based on sexual orientation, among other characteristics, and requires them to avoid imposing their values on their clients. The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Georgia filed a friend-of-the-court brief supporting ASU's right to require its students to comply with these professional standards when counseling clients.
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Court Case
Dec 2011
Religious Liberty
LGBTQ Rights
Keeton v. Anderson-Wiley
Jennifer Keeton, a student at Augusta State University (ASU), sought a court order requiring ASU to reinstate her in a graduate-level counseling program even though she insisted on a right – rooted in her religious beliefs – to counsel lesbian, gay and bisexual clients that being gay is immoral. ASU's counseling program requires its graduate students to adhere to the American Counseling Association's Code of Ethics, which prohibits counselors from discriminating based on sexual orientation, among other characteristics, and requires them to avoid imposing their values on their clients. The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Georgia filed a friend-of-the-court brief supporting ASU's right to require its students to comply with these professional standards when counseling clients.