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
Jun 2017
Religious Liberty
Trinity Lutheran Church v. Pauley
Whether a state may exclude houses of worship from a cash grant program in order to avoid any taxpayer subsidy for religion.
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U.S. Supreme Court
Jun 2017
Religious Liberty
Trinity Lutheran Church v. Pauley
Whether a state may exclude houses of worship from a cash grant program in order to avoid any taxpayer subsidy for religion.
U.S. Supreme Court
Jun 2017
Religious Liberty
Advocate Health Care Network v. Stapleton
Whether pension plans established by religiously affiliated health care providers are exempt as “church plans” from federal law protecting employees’ pension rights and retirement benefits.
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U.S. Supreme Court
Jun 2017
Religious Liberty
Advocate Health Care Network v. Stapleton
Whether pension plans established by religiously affiliated health care providers are exempt as “church plans” from federal law protecting employees’ pension rights and retirement benefits.
Puerto Rico
Jul 2016
Religious Liberty
Criminal Law Reform
Marrero-MĂ©ndez v. Pesquera
In 2013, the ACLU and ACLU of Puerto Rico filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of Officer Alvin Marrero-MĂ©ndez, a 13-year veteran of the Puerto Rico Police Department.
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Puerto Rico
Jul 2016
Religious Liberty
Criminal Law Reform
Marrero-MĂ©ndez v. Pesquera
In 2013, the ACLU and ACLU of Puerto Rico filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of Officer Alvin Marrero-MĂ©ndez, a 13-year veteran of the Puerto Rico Police Department.
Court Case
Jun 2016
Religious Liberty
+3 Issues
ACLU of Northern California v. Burwell
The ACLU, the ACLU of Northern California, and the ACLU of Southern California filed a lawsuit against the federal government for awarding millions of dollars annually to organizations that provide care, including access to medical care, to unaccompanied immigrant minors. The government authorizes some of these organizations to refuse on religious grounds to follow the law that requires them to provide these young people with access to contraception and abortion, even if the minor has been raped.
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Court Case
Jun 2016
Religious Liberty
+3 Issues
ACLU of Northern California v. Burwell
The ACLU, the ACLU of Northern California, and the ACLU of Southern California filed a lawsuit against the federal government for awarding millions of dollars annually to organizations that provide care, including access to medical care, to unaccompanied immigrant minors. The government authorizes some of these organizations to refuse on religious grounds to follow the law that requires them to provide these young people with access to contraception and abortion, even if the minor has been raped.