| 25-703 |
Calvary Chapel San Jose, et al. v. California, et al. |
California |
2025-12-17 |
Pending |
Amici (7) |
church-autonomy covid-restrictions excessive-fines free-exercise-clause religious-liberty strict-scrutiny |
At issue in this case is the ability of government to referee religious services in a house of worship. Government officials in California imposed COV… |
| 25-6392 |
Christopher Tyler Bray v. Texas |
Texas |
2025-12-17 |
Denied |
IFP |
constitutional-law establishment-clause first-amendment free-exercise-clause government-interest religious-freedom |
What is the meaning of religion as it concerns the Free Exercise Clause and the Establishment Clause of the 1st Amendment, and what are the implicatio… |
| 25-394 |
Beit Ha Kavod v. City of Canton, Ohio |
Ohio |
2025-10-02 |
Denied |
|
building-codes constitutional-rights first-amendment free-exercise-clause municipal-law religious-discrimination |
The question presented is whether a municipality enforcing building codes violates the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment to the United State… |
| 25-256 |
Libby Hilsenrath, on Behalf of Her Minor Child, C. H. v. Chathams School District Board of Education |
Third Circuit |
2025-09-04 |
Denied |
|
establishment-clause first-amendment free-exercise-clause parental-rights public-school religious-freedom |
Whether a public school violates the Establishment Clause by assigning content that proselytizes for, extols, and gives favored treatment to Islam (or… |
| 25-133 |
Joseph Miller, et al. v. James V. McDonald, Commissioner, New York State Department of Health, et al. |
Second Circuit |
2025-08-04 |
GVR |
Amici (17) |
constitutional-law first-amendment free-exercise-clause religious-exemption secular-exemption smith-precedent |
1. Whether a law that categorically disallows religious exemptions but permits secular exemptions and other comparable secular activity violates the F… |
| 24-7510 |
Beit Ha Kavod v. City of Canton, Ohio |
Ohio |
2025-06-26 |
Denied |
Response WaivedIFP |
building-codes constitutional-law first-amendment free-exercise-clause municipal-regulation religious-discrimination |
The question presented is whether a municipality enforcing building codes violates the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment to the United State… |
| 24A987 |
Joseph Miller, et al. v. James V. McDonald, Commissioner, New York State Department of Health, et al. |
Second Circuit |
2025-04-16 |
Presumed Complete |
|
amish-community employment-division-v-smith first-amendment free-exercise-clause religious-exemption vaccination-mandate |
Question not identified. |
| 24-5844 |
Kimberly Edelstein v. Max Edelstein |
Ohio |
2024-10-29 |
Denied |
Response WaivedRelisted (2)IFP |
constitutional-rights contract-law due-process free-exercise-clause neutral-principles religious-marriage |
1. Does the Ohio court's dedsiofi to invalidate a Jewish Ketufaah as an
unenforceable "promise to marry " and void as against public policy conflict w… |
| 24-396 |
St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School v. Gentner Drummond, Attorney General of Oklahoma, ex rel. Oklahoma |
Oklahoma |
2024-10-09 |
Judgment Issued |
Relisted (3) |
charter-schools establishment-clause free-exercise-clause pedagogical-choice religious-discrimination state-action |
1. Whether the academic and pedagogical choices of a privately owned and run school constitute state action simply because it contracts with the state… |
| 24-394 |
Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board, et al. v. Gentner Drummond, Attorney General of Oklahoma, ex rel. Oklahoma |
Oklahoma |
2024-10-09 |
Judgment Issued |
Amici (2)Relisted (3) |
charter-schools educational-rights establishment-clause free-exercise-clause religious-discrimination state-action |
This Court has "repeatedly held that a State violates the Free Exercise Clause when it excludes religious observers from otherwise available public be… |
| 24-297 |
Tamer Mahmoud, et al. v. Thomas W. Taylor, et al. |
Fourth Circuit |
2024-09-16 |
Judgment Issued |
Amici (80)Response RequestedResponse WaivedRelisted (3) |
first-amendment-rights free-exercise-clause gender-instruction parental-rights religious-liberty school-curriculum |
Do public schools burden parents' religious exercise when they compel elementary school children to participate in instruction on gender and sexuality… |
| 24-291 |
Apache Stronghold v. United States, et al. |
Ninth Circuit |
2024-09-13 |
Denied |
Amici (15)Relisted (18) |
free-exercise-clause government-action native-american-rights religious-exercise religious-freedom-restoration-act sacred-site |
Whether the government "substantially burdens" religious exercise under RFRA, or must satisfy heightened scrutiny under the Free Exercise Clause, when… |
| 23-915 |
Pleasant View Baptist Church, et al. v. Andrew Beshear |
Sixth Circuit |
2024-02-23 |
Denied |
Response Waived |
42-usc-1983 burden-of-proof civil-rights constitutional-rights covid-19-restrictions free-exercise free-exercise-clause qualified-immunity state-actor |
1. Whether qualified immunity applies to a state
actor who, despite multiple circuit court decisions
directing him not to burden religious activities … |
| 23-6429 |
Jan M. Gawlik v. Scott Semple, et al. |
Second Circuit |
2024-01-08 |
Denied |
Response WaivedIFP |
administrative-remedies due-process free-exercise free-exercise-clause mailbox-rule property-rights religious-exercise rluipa summary-judgment |
WHERE THE CONNECTICUT DISTRICT-COURT -FAILED TO UTILIZE THE,"MAILBOX RULE", WITHIN PLAINTIFFS TIMELY SUBMISSION OF HIS ADMINISTRATIVE RE-MEDIES/EXHAUS… |
| 23-481 |
Temple of 1001 Buddhas, et al. v. City of Fremont, California |
Ninth Circuit |
2023-11-07 |
Denied |
Response RequestedRelisted (2) |
42-usc-1983 civil-rights constitutional-rights disparate-treatment first-amendment free-exercise free-exercise-clause municipal-liability searching-review section-1983 |
1. Whether a state municipality can be held liable under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 when decision rights and associated impingements on free exercise are distri… |
| 22-1093 |
Mark Anthony Spell, et al. v. John Bel Edwards, et al. |
Fifth Circuit |
2023-05-09 |
Denied |
Amici (4)Response Waived |
church-assembly church-state-separation establishment-clause first-amendment founders-intent free-exercise free-exercise-clause religious-freedom religious-liberty state-restrictions |
This is a vital case of first impression concerning our most sacred rights of religious freedom and the very nature of the Church and State as separat… |
| 22-108 |
Richard R. Watkinson v. Alaska Department of Corrections, et al. |
Ninth Circuit |
2022-08-03 |
Denied |
Response RequestedResponse WaivedRelisted (5) |
free-exercise free-exercise-clause government-neutrality prisoner-rights religious-accommodation religious-accommodations rluipa strict-scrutiny substantial-burden |
1. Does the Free Exercise Clause permit a prison to deny accommodations to the Petitioner for his religious exercise that it already allows for secula… |
| 21-1295 |
St. Augustine School, et al. v. Jill Underly, in Her Official Capacity as Superintendent of Public Instruction, et al. |
Seventh Circuit |
2022-03-28 |
Denied |
|
constitutional-claims doctrinal-determination establishment-clause first-amendment free-exercise free-exercise-clause government-interference public-benefits religion-clauses religious-preference summary-reversal |
1. Whether summary reversal is warranted where the Seventh Circuit did not consider this case in light of Espinoza v. Montana Dep't of Revenue, 591 U.… |
| 21-1143 |
Dr. A., et al. v. Kathy Hochul, Governor of New York, et al. |
Second Circuit |
2022-02-16 |
Denied |
Amici (12)Relisted (10) |
administrative-rule covid-19 covid-vaccine-mandate employment-division-v-smith free-exercise free-exercise-clause medical-exemption religious-exemption secular-conduct vaccine-mandate |
Using its emergency regulatory powers, New York has imposed a COVID vaccine mandate on healthcare workers, but provided no religious exemption. Worker… |
| 21-6883 |
Walter Delaney Booker, Jr. v. M. E. Engelke, et al. |
Fourth Circuit |
2022-01-18 |
Denied |
Response WaivedIFP |
administrative-law civil-rights compelling-interest constitutional-rights due-process first-amendment free-exercise-clause prison prison-rights religious-exercise religious-freedom standing |
1. Does tho RLuipA require the louer courts to evaluate
the claims raised under the Aat under the legrtimate
penological interest test or the compelli… |
| 21-1003 |
F. F., as Parent of Y. F., et al. v. New York, et al. |
New York |
2022-01-14 |
Denied |
|
constitutional-rights first-amendment free-exercise free-exercise-clause narrow-tailoring religious-bias religious-exemption school-vaccination strict-scrutiny vaccination-requirement |
Does New York's religious exemption repeal violate the First Amendment's Free Exercise Clause because (1) either (a) it allows for secular exemptions … |
| 21-717 |
John Does 1–3, et al. v. Janet T. Mills, Governor of Maine, et al. |
First Circuit |
2021-11-15 |
Denied |
Amici (3)Relisted (3) |
covid-19 covid-19-mandate free-exercise free-exercise-clause healthcare-workers preemption preliminary-injunction religious-accommodation supremacy-clause title-vii |
"[E]ven in a pandemic, the Constitution cannot be put away and forgotten." Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn v. Cuomo, 141 S. Ct. 63, 68 (2020). More… |
| 21-5592 |
John H. Ramirez v. Bryan Collier, Executive Director, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, et al. |
Fifth Circuit |
2021-09-07 |
Judgment Issued |
Amici (17)IFP |
compelling-governmental-interest compelling-state-interest execution-protocol free-exercise free-exercise-clause free-speech least-restrictive-means pastoral-support religious-land-use-and-institutionalized-persons-a religious-rights rluipa |
1. Under the Free Exercise Clause and Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act ("RLUIPA"), 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000cc–2000cc–5 (2000), does the S… |
| 21-144 |
Seattle's Union Gospel Mission v. Matthew S. Woods |
Washington |
2021-08-03 |
Denied |
Amici (17)Relisted (9) |
civil-rights coreligionist-hiring employment-discrimination first-amendment free-exercise free-exercise-clause ministerial-exception religious-exemption religious-freedom religious-nonprofits standing |
1. Whether the First Amendment protects the Mission's right to hire coreligionists.
2. Whether denying the Mission a total exemption the state grants… |
| 20-1501 |
Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, et al. v. Shirin Emami, Acting Superintendent, New York Department of Financial Services, et al. |
New York |
2021-04-27 |
GVR |
Amici (6)Relisted (4) |
abortion abortion-mandate employment-division-smith first-amendment free-exercise free-exercise-clause free-speech health-insurance religious-autonomy religious-exemption smith-v-oregon |
In 2017, New York promulgated a regulation mandating that employer health insurance plans cover abortions. N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. tit. 11, § 52.1… |
| 20-1346 |
Calvary Chapel of Bangor v. Janet T. Mills, Governor of Maine |
First Circuit |
2021-03-25 |
Denied |
Response RequestedResponse WaivedRelisted (2) |
employment-division-v-smith establishment-clause first-amendment free-exercise free-exercise-clause government-discrimination jacobson-v-massachusetts pandemic-restrictions preliminary-injunction religious-liberty strict-scrutiny temporary-restraining-order |
(1) Whether the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment prohibits the government from discriminating against houses of worship by restricting the … |
| 20-1137 |
California Parents for the Equalization of Educational Materials v. Tom Torlakson, et al. |
Ninth Circuit |
2021-02-19 |
Denied |
Amici (2) |
disfavored-treatment federal-law first-amendment free-exercise-clause government-discrimination ninth-circuit-precedent recurring-issue religious-exercise religious-liberty substantial-burden |
Whether the Free Exercise Clause permits the government to single out a religion for disfavored treatment so long as it does not "substantially burden… |
| 20-7044 |
Gregory Bartunek v. Hall County, Nebraska, et al. |
Eighth Circuit |
2021-02-04 |
Denied |
Response WaivedIFP |
fifth-amendment first-amendment fourteenth-amendment free-exercise free-exercise-clause pretrial-detainee pretrial-detainees religious-freedom |
Whether failing to provide consistent and reliable opportunities for pretrial detainees to exercise their religious freedoms is a violation of the Fir… |
| 20-791 |
Eglise Baptiste Bethanie De Ft. Lauderdale, Inc., et al. v. Seminole Tribe of Florida, et al. |
Eleventh Circuit |
2020-12-09 |
Denied |
Response RequestedRelisted (2) |
access-act civil-remedies civil-rights establishment-clause first-amendment free-exercise-clause freedom-of-access-to-clinic-entrances-act off-reservation-conduct religious-worship tribal-sovereign-immunity |
Six members of a reservation-based tribal police force, while in uniform, using a marked vehicle and carrying departmental firearms, during a sabbath … |
| 20-639 |
Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley v. Steve Sisolak, Governor of Nevada, et al. |
Ninth Circuit |
2020-11-10 |
Denied |
Amici (6)Relisted (2) |
covid-19 covid-19-restrictions equal-protection first-amendment free-assembly free-exercise free-exercise-clause free-speech religious-liberty strict-scrutiny |
1. Whether the Governor's favoring of secular over religious gatherings violates the Free Exercise Clause.
2. Whether the Governor's favoring of secu… |
| 20-569 |
Elim Romanian Pentecostal Church, et al. v. J. B. Pritzker, Governor of Illinois |
Seventh Circuit |
2020-10-30 |
Denied |
Amici (5)Response RequestedResponse WaivedRelisted (3) |
content-based-restriction content-based-restrictions first-amendment free-exercise free-exercise-clause jacobson-v-massachusetts pandemic-exception religious-discrimination religious-gatherings strict-scrutiny |
(1) Whether the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment prohibits the government from discriminating against religious gatherings by restricting t… |
| 20-534 |
All Saints' Episcopal Church (Fort Worth) v. The Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth, et al. |
Texas |
2020-10-22 |
Denied |
Amici (1)Relisted (2) |
church-property-dispute church-property-disputes ecclesiastical-question establishment-clause express-trust-provision free-exercise free-exercise-clause jones-v-wolf neutral-principles neutral-principles-of-law |
Whether the Texas Supreme Court's decision awarding petitioner's sanctuary and rectory to a dissident faction in contravention of the will of petition… |
| 20-385 |
Judy Doe v. Michael L. Parson, Governor of Missouri, et al. |
Eighth Circuit |
2020-09-24 |
Denied |
Response Waived |
abortion abortion-rights constitutional-challenge due-process establishment-clause free-exercise free-exercise-clause religious-belief religious-liberty undue-burden undue-burden-standard |
1. Is the Establishment Clause violated by
the proclamation in an abortion statute that "The life of
each human being begins at conception. Abortion w… |
| 19-8695 |
Ruben Gutierrez v. Luis V. Saenz, et al. |
Fifth Circuit |
2020-06-15 |
Judgment Issued |
Amici (1)IFP |
compelling-interest execution execution-protocol first-amendment free-exercise free-exercise-clause religious-accommodation religious-adviser religious-exercise rluipa spiritual-aid |
1. Under the RLUIPA, does the State's decision to deprive Mr. Gutierrez of the opportunity to be accompanied during his execution by a religious advis… |
| 19-5841 |
Shahram Shakouri v. Lorie Davis, Director, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Correctional Institutions Division, et al. |
Fifth Circuit |
2019-09-06 |
Denied |
IFP |
due-process first-amendment fourteenth-amendment free-exercise free-exercise-clause masterpiece-cakeshop religious-discrimination religious-hostility religious-neutrality scriptural-interpretation thirteenth-amendment |
Whether district court's lack of religious neutrality violated Petitioner's right to the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment or Free Exercise Cla… |
| 19-66 |
George Q. Ricks v. Idaho Contractors Board, et al. |
Idaho |
2019-07-12 |
Denied |
Amici (5)Response RequestedResponse WaivedRelisted (8) |
civil-rights constitutional-interpretation constitutional-law employment-division-v-smith first-amendment free-exercise free-exercise-clause generally-applicable neutral-law neutral-laws religious-exemption religious-exemptions religious-freedom stare-decisis |
Whether the Court should revisit its holding in Employment Division v. Smith, 494 U.S. 872 (1990), that the Free Exercise Clause generally requires no… |
| 18-9832 |
Patrick H. Murphy v. Bryan Collier, Executive Director, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, et al. |
Fifth Circuit |
2019-06-27 |
Denied |
Amici (1)IFP |
civil-rights death-penalty death-row due-process establishment-clause free-exercise free-exercise-clause pastoral-accompaniment religious-liberty rluipa |
1. When a death-sentenced inmate informs prison authorities a month in advance of his scheduled execution date of his desire to be accompanied during … |
| 18-9629 |
Matthew Hale v. Federal Bureau of Prisons, et al. |
Tenth Circuit |
2019-06-11 |
Denied |
Response WaivedIFP |
civil-rights constitutional-law due-process first-amendment free-exercise-clause free-speech religious-freedom religious-freedom-restoration-act standing |
Whether the Tenth Circuit's usage of a determining test for whether factor-driven belief system qualifies a particular religion for the purposes of th… |
| 18A1256 |
George Q. Ricks v. Idaho Contractors Board, et al. |
Idaho |
2019-06-03 |
Presumed Complete |
|
employment-division-v-smith free-exercise-clause generally-applicable-law neutral-law religious-exemption social-security-number |
Question not identified. |
| 18-1151 |
St. Augustine School, et al. v. Carolyn Stanford Taylor, in Her Official Capacity as Superintendent of Public Instruction, et al. |
Seventh Circuit |
2019-03-06 |
GVR |
Relisted (2) |
church-autonomy denominational-affiliation employment-division-v-smith faith-tradition free-exercise free-exercise-clause government-benefits religion-clauses religious-adherent religious-autonomy religious-liberty trinity-lutheran trinity-lutheran-v-comer |
1. Whether the Free Exercise Clause prohibits the government from requiring a religious adherent to choose between following his or her faith traditio… |
| 18-530 |
Congregation Jeshuat Israel v. Congregation Shearith Israel |
First Circuit |
2018-10-24 |
Denied |
Amici (2)Response RequestedResponse WaivedRelisted (2) |
charitable-trusts diversity-jurisdiction erie-doctrine establishment-clause evidence federalism free-exercise free-exercise-clause personal-property property property-dispute religious-liberty secular-evidence trust trust-law |
1. In ordinary trust and property disputes does the Establishment Clause preclude courts from considering secular evidence that is relevant and admiss… |
| 18-365 |
The Presbyterian Church in Morristown, et al. v. Freedom From Religion Foundation, et al. |
New Jersey |
2018-09-20 |
Denied |
Relisted (6) |
church-state-separation constitutional-rights establishment-clause free-exercise free-exercise-clause free-speech government-funding government-grants historic-preservation religious-discrimination religious-neutrality standing status-use-distinction |
Does the categorical exclusion of active houses of worship from a competitive government grant program advancing the secular interest of historic pres… |
| 18-364 |
Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders, et al. v. Freedom From Religion Foundation, et al. |
New Jersey |
2018-09-20 |
Denied |
Amici (2)Relisted (6) |
civil-rights establishment-clause first-amendment free-exercise free-exercise-clause free-speech government-funding historic-preservation public-funding religious-status status-based-discrimination trinity-lutheran trinity-lutheran-precedent |
1. Whether using generally available historic preservation funds to repair or restore a house of worship constitutes a "religious use" that falls outs… |
| 19A1052 |
Ruben Gutierrez v. Luis V. Saenz, et al. |
Fifth Circuit |
|
Granted |
Amici (1) |
execution-chamber first-amendment free-exercise-clause religious-chaplain RLUIPA substantial-burden |
Question not identified. |