No. 21-144

Seattle's Union Gospel Mission v. Matthew S. Woods

Lower Court: Washington
Docketed: 2021-08-03
Status: Denied
Type: Paid
Amici (17)Relisted (9) Experienced Counsel
Tags: civil-rights coreligionist-hiring employment-discrimination first-amendment free-exercise free-exercise-clause ministerial-exception religious-exemption religious-freedom religious-nonprofits standing
Latest Conference: 2022-03-18 (distributed 9 times)
Question Presented (from Petition)

1. Whether the First Amendment protects the Mission's right to hire coreligionists.

2. Whether denying the Mission a total exemption the state grants to secular, small businesses violates the Free Exercise Clause.

3. Whether the Washington Supreme Court violated the Free Exercise Clause by showing at least a "slight suspicion" of hostility to religious beliefs in deleting a total exemption the legislature bestowed.

Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether the First Amendment protects the Mission's right to hire coreligionists

Docket Entries

2022-03-21
Petition DENIED. Statement of Justice Alito, with whom Justice Thomas joins, respecting the denial of certiorari. (Detached Opinion)
2022-03-14
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 3/18/2022.
2022-02-28
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 3/4/2022.
2022-02-23
Rescheduled.
2022-02-22
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 2/25/2022.
2022-02-16
Rescheduled.
2022-02-11
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 2/18/2022.
2022-01-19
Rescheduled.
2022-01-18
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/21/2022.
2022-01-13
Rescheduled.
2022-01-10
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/14/2022.
2022-01-04
Rescheduled.
2022-01-03
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/7/2022.
2021-12-07
Rescheduled.
2021-12-06
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 12/10/2021.
2021-11-30
Rescheduled.
2021-11-16
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 12/3/2021.
2021-11-15
Reply of petitioner Seattle's Union Gospel Mission filed. (Distributed)
2021-11-01
Brief of respondent Matthew S. Woods in opposition filed.
2021-09-02
Brief amici curiae of American Association of Christian Schools, et al. filed.
2021-09-02
Brief amicus curiae of National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference filed.
2021-09-02
Brief amici curiae of Gospel Rescue Mission Fellowship, et al. filed.
2021-09-02
Brief amicus curiae of Billy Graham Evangelistic Association filed.
2021-09-02
Brief amici curiae of Montana, et al. filed.
2021-09-02
Brief amici curiae of Alabama, et al. filed.
2021-09-02
Brief amici curiae of Christian Legal Society, et al. filed.
2021-09-02
Brief amici curiae of General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventists, et al. filed.
2021-09-02
Brief amicus curiae of Grace Youth and Family Foundation filed.
2021-09-02
Brief amicus curiae of First Liberty Institute filed.
2021-09-02
Brief amici curiae of Islam and Religious Freedom Action Team of the Religious Freedom Institute, et al. filed.
2021-09-02
Brief amicus curiae of Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence filed.
2021-09-02
Brief amicus curiae of Kevin C. Walsh filed.
2021-09-01
Brief amicus curiae of Citygate Network filed.
2021-08-31
Brief amici curiae of 20 Current and Former Washington State Legislators filed.
2021-08-31
Brief amicus curiae of Westminster Theological Seminary filed.
2021-08-30
Brief amicus curiae of Samaritan's Purse filed.
2021-08-26
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including November 1, 2021.
2021-08-24
Motion to extend the time to file a response from September 2, 2021 to November 1, 2021, submitted to The Clerk.
2021-08-24
Blanket Consent filed by Respondent, Matthew S. Woods
2021-08-10
Blanket Consent filed by Petitioner, Seattle's Union Gospel Mission
2021-08-02
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due September 2, 2021)

Attorneys

American Association of Christian Schools, Assoication for Biblical Higher Education, Association of Classical Christian Schools
George M. AhrendAhrend Law Firm PLLC, Amicus
Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
David Michael Hurst Jr.Phelps Dunbar, Amicus
Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence
Anthony Thomas CasoConstitutional Counsel Group, Amicus
Christian Legal Society, Administer Justice, New Covenant Legal Services, Access Justice, Christian Legal Aid of Arizona, Compassionate Counsel
Kimberlee Wood ColbyChristian Legal Society, Amicus
First Liberty Institute
Kelly J. ShackelfordFirst Liberty Institute, Amicus
General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventists, et al.
Christopher Ernest MillsSpero Law LLC, Amicus
Gospel Rescue Mission Fellowship, Market Street Mission, City Rescue Mission of Lansing, The Gospel Mission, and Sunday Breakfast Mission
Michael Dean KarpelesGreenberg Traurig, LLP, Amicus
Grace Youth and Family Foundation
Deborah Dewart — Amicus
Islam and Religious Freedom Action Team of the Religious Freedom Institute and the Jewish Coalition for Religious Liberty
Miles Edward ColemanNelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, LLP, Amicus
Kevin C. Walsh
Kevin Christian WalshUniversity of Richmond School of Law, Amicus
Matthew S. Woods
Jennifer Denise DiskinQLaw Foundation of Washington, Respondent
National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference
Tim NewtonMurphy & Grantland, P.A., Amicus
Samaritan's Purse
R. Trent McCotterBoyden Gray & Associates PLLC, Amicus
Seattle's Union Gospel Mission
John J. BurschAlliance Defending Freedom, Petitioner
State of Alabama
Edmund Gerard LaCour Jr.Office of the Attorney General, Amicus
The State of Montana, Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, and other Senior Montana State Attorneys
Edward Mark WengerHoltzman Vogel Baran Torchinsky & Josefiak PLLC, Amicus
Washington State Legislators
Steven T. O'BanAttorney at Law, Amicus
Westminster Theological Seminary
Kristine Lee BrownAttorney At Law, Amicus