In New Mexico Trappers Association v. Torrez, (10th Cir., June 8, 2026), the U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed on justiciability grounds a challenge by trappers’ organizations to a New Mexico statute banning capturing or killing wildlife on
Religion Clause
The Religion Clause blog, published by Howard M. Friedman, focuses on legal developments related to church-state relations and religious liberty in the United States. It covers court decisions and regulatory actions involving the First Amendment's religion clauses, including cases on zoning permits for religious institutions, religious exemptions in healthcare and education, and controversies over religious content in public school curricula. The blog also addresses issues such as the ministerial exception in employment law, challenges to government designations affecting religious organizations, and the intersection of religious freedom with other constitutional rights like free speech. Posts often include analysis of statutes like RLUIPA and explore the impact of federal and state policies on religious exercise and expression.
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DOJ Opinion Says EEOC’s Title VII Rules on Disparate Impact Are Unconstitutional
Yesterday, the Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel issued a 25-page opinion (full text) concluding that the EEOC’s regulations and guidance documents on disparate-impact liability under Title VII are unconstitutional. The OLC’s opinion focuses on disparate impact…
Will Next Battles for Religious Accommodation Be Objections To AI?
An article last week in Business Insider suggests that the next battlefield for religious accommodation under Title VII may be artificial intelligence. Business Insider reports in part:Opposed to using AI for her software-engineering job, Erin Maus secured something of a…
Defense Department’s Streamlining of Religious Affiliation Codes Got It into Theological Debate
On June 5, Assistant Secretary of War Sean Parnell officially released on X (Twitter) the full text of a May 20 Memo streamlining the Religious Affiliation Codes used by the military to collect religious preferences of military personnel. The official…
5th Circuit: Federal Diversity Jurisdiction Exists In Lutheran Church’s Suit Against Concordia University
In Lutheran Church- Missouri Synod v. Christian, (5th Cir., June 4, 2026), the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in a 2-1 decision held that in a suit by the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS)– an entity incorporated under…
Animal Crushing Not Protected By RFRA
In United States v. Edison, (D MN, June 5, 2026), a Minnesota federal magistrate judge recommended that motions to dismiss filed by defendant in a criminal prosecution be denied. Defendant Bryan Edison was charged with sixteen counts of “animal…
Muslim High Schoolers Sue After Being Disciplined for Instagram Video
Suit was filed yesterday in a Virginia federal district court against Fairfax County schools by four Muslim students who were disciplined because of a skit they posted on the Muslim Students Association Instagram site. The complaint (full text)…
Indian Court Rules Deceased’s Direction on Disposition of Body After Death Controls Over Children’s Wish for Religious Rites
In India, the High Court in the state of Kerala has held that the wishes of the deceased to have her body donated to a medical college for educational purposes takes precedence over the desire of some of her children…
TRO Under RFRA Extends Legal Immigration Status of Nigerian Deacon
In Archdiocese of Santa Fe v. Mullin, (D NM, June 2, 2026), a New Mexico federal district court issued a temporary restraining order ex parte staying the expiration of the F-1 student visa issued to Martin Umeatuegbu, a citizen of…
Jews for Jesus’ Anti-SLAPP Motion in Defamation Case Fails
In Amitay v. Jews for Jesus, (CA App., May 28, 2026), a California state appellate court held that a defamation claims against Jews for Jesus should not be dismissed under California’s anti-SLAPP law because the claim at least has…