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
U.S. Supreme Court
Feb 2019
Religious Liberty
Almighty Supreme Born Allah v. Milling, 17-8654
Whether the Supreme Court should grant certiorari to re-evaluate the qualified immunity doctrine, which protects government officials from liability for violating an individual’s constitutional rights in a wide range of situations.
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U.S. Supreme Court
Feb 2019
Religious Liberty
Almighty Supreme Born Allah v. Milling, 17-8654
Whether the Supreme Court should grant certiorari to re-evaluate the qualified immunity doctrine, which protects government officials from liability for violating an individual’s constitutional rights in a wide range of situations.
U.S. Supreme Court
Jan 2019
Religious Liberty
LGBTQ Rights
Miller v. Davis
Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s historic marriage equality ruling in 2015, Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis refused to issue any marriage licenses because of her personal, religious opposition to marriage for same-sex couples. The ACLU and the ACLU of Kentucky won a preliminary injunction on behalf of Rowan County couples enabling them to marry.
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U.S. Supreme Court
Jan 2019
Religious Liberty
LGBTQ Rights
Miller v. Davis
Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s historic marriage equality ruling in 2015, Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis refused to issue any marriage licenses because of her personal, religious opposition to marriage for same-sex couples. The ACLU and the ACLU of Kentucky won a preliminary injunction on behalf of Rowan County couples enabling them to marry.
Court Case
Jun 2018
Religious Liberty
Duncan v. Nevada
The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Nevada, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and Covington & Burling LLP filed a lawsuit in state court to challenge a school voucher program signed into law in summer 2015.
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Court Case
Jun 2018
Religious Liberty
Duncan v. Nevada
The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Nevada, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and Covington & Burling LLP filed a lawsuit in state court to challenge a school voucher program signed into law in summer 2015.
Court Case
Jun 2018
Religious Liberty
ACLU-NJ v. Hendricks
In 2013, the American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of New Jersey, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and Barry, Corrado & Grassi, P.C. filed suit challenging more than $11 million in state grants to religious institutions that train clergy. The lawsuit argues that the grants violate the state constitution and Law Against Discrimination.
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Court Case
Jun 2018
Religious Liberty
ACLU-NJ v. Hendricks
In 2013, the American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of New Jersey, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and Barry, Corrado & Grassi, P.C. filed suit challenging more than $11 million in state grants to religious institutions that train clergy. The lawsuit argues that the grants violate the state constitution and Law Against Discrimination.
Court Case
Jun 2018
Religious Liberty
Martin v. Houston
In September 2014, the American Civil Liberties Union and ACLU of Alabama filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of a pastor whose right to religious exercise was violated by a new Alabama law that targeted him personally and directly, and prevented him from pursuing his ministry and practicing his deeply held religious beliefs.
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Court Case
Jun 2018
Religious Liberty
Martin v. Houston
In September 2014, the American Civil Liberties Union and ACLU of Alabama filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of a pastor whose right to religious exercise was violated by a new Alabama law that targeted him personally and directly, and prevented him from pursuing his ministry and practicing his deeply held religious beliefs.