Case Law & Precedents

Supreme Court held that Maryland parents have a constitutional right to opt their children out of LGBTQ+ inclusive storybook lessons that conflict with their religious beliefs. Public schools must provide notice and opt-out opportunities when curriculum conflicts with sincerely held religious beliefs.

Second Circuit held that sincerity of religious belief is a low bar — courts cannot treat a Title VII accommodation request as insincere merely because the belief is personal, recently formed, or not part of official church doctrine.

Seventh Circuit confirmed that mixed religious and secular objections still qualify for Title VII religious accommodation. An employee's objection doesn't lose protection merely because it is informed by both religious belief and personal views.

Unanimous decision strengthening Title VII workplace religious accommodation. Employers must show substantial increased costs to deny accommodation — not merely more than a de minimis burden.

Web designer cannot be forced by state anti-discrimination law to create websites celebrating same-sex marriages. Compelled speech violates the First Amendment.

Catholic Social Services won the right to continue foster care ministry despite the city's anti-discrimination policy. Decided on narrow grounds — the city's contract included discretionary exemptions, making the policy not 'generally applicable' under Smith.

California's COVID restrictions on home religious gatherings struck down. Government cannot treat comparable secular activities more favorably than religious ones.

Baker who declined to make a same-sex wedding cake won on deliberately narrow grounds — the Colorado Civil Rights Commission showed demonstrable hostility toward his religious beliefs. The Court did not resolve the broader free-speech vs. anti-discrimination question.

Closely held corporations cannot be forced to provide contraceptive coverage that violates owners' religious beliefs. RFRA protections extend to for-profit businesses.

Unanimous decision. Religious group won the right to use hoasca tea in ceremonies despite federal drug law. Government could not show a compelling interest sufficient to override RFRA.

City ordinance banning animal sacrifice was struck down as targeting religion. Laws that are not neutral and generally applicable — but instead target specific religious practices — face strict scrutiny.

Court held that neutral, generally applicable laws do not require religious exemptions even if they substantially burden religious practice. Sharply curtailed the pre-existing Sherbert compelling-interest test for most laws.

Amish families won the right to remove children from school after 8th grade. Supreme Court held that parental religious rights, combined with the Amish community's specific circumstances, outweighed the state's compulsory education interest.

Established the original 'compelling interest' test — government must show a compelling interest and use the least restrictive means before burdening religious practice. Applied to a Seventh-day Adventist denied unemployment benefits for refusing Saturday work.