Religion & Law

Five Cases of Interest Already On Supreme Court's Docket As Term Opens

By Howard M. Friedman

The U.S. Supreme Court's October Term opens today with five religious liberty-related cases already on the docket from grants of review last year. The cases are:

Tanzin v. Tanvir: Availability of money damages in suits under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. The suit involves claims by three Muslims who allege that they were placed on the no-fly list as retaliation for their refusal to act as government informants. (See prior posting.) Links to pleadings in the case are at the SCOTUSblog case page. The case is set for argument on Oct. 6.

Fulton v. City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: In the case,  the U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals upheld held against 1st Amendment challenges the City of Philadelphia's policy of refusing to contract with foster care agencies, such as Catholic Social Services, that will not place children with same-sex married couples. (See prior posting.) Links to pleadings in the case are at the SCOTUSblog case page. The case will be argued on Nov. 4.

Republic of Hungary v. Simon and Federal Republic of Germany v. Philipp: Whether claims under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act may be brought in these cases of taking of Jewish property during World War II.  (SCOTUS blog case pages: Simon,   Philipp. The cases will be argued Dec. 7.

Uzuegbunam v. Preczewski: Challenge to Georgia Gwinnett College's speech policies that led to a student being stopped from distributing religious literature on campus. (See prior posting.) (SCOTUSbog case page.) Argument date is not yet set.

The Court may announce additional grants of review later today.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on October 05, 2020 (boomark / email).