When House Bill 2, or HB2, was passed in North Carolina in 2016, the city of Charlotte lost its ability to pass an anti-discrimination ordinance to protect the rights of its LGBTQ citizens. Indeed, the reputation of Charlotte as a progressive city was called into question as HB2 banned Charlotte and other cities from passing Read More

A challenge was recently made by a group of parents to a California ethnic studies model curriculum that suggests students engage in an Aztec prayer. The parents argue that the material violates both the U.S. and state Constitutions. How the Aztec prayer Case Arose At the center of this case is the Ethnic Studies Model Read More

In a major religious rights case about to be heard by the United States Supreme Court, a conservative-dominated court might move American law even further in support of religion. A current trend in the court is towards increased religious liberty rights. This case traces back to the 2014 Hobby Lobby ruling, which ruled in favor Read More

Two women in Omaha and their children recently initiated legal action against the state of Nebraska’s health department after the department rejected the women’s request to be named as legal parents on their sons’ birth certificates. This case questions the role of parental rights held by LGBTQ+ couples. How the Case Arose In 2002, the Read More

A federal appellate court recently issued a decision in favor of Western Michigan University athletes. This decision means the athletes will be able to play sports without obtaining a COVID-19 vaccine. The University had issued a vaccine mandate for student athletes, but did not mandate them for all students. How the Lawsuit Arose The original Read More

On October 4, 2021, the United States Supreme Court began its annual term with a busy agenda that involves three claims addressing alleged constitutional rights violations. One of the biggest cases involves abortion rights. Several states are currently requesting that the Supreme Court reconsider Roe v. Wade, a 1973 ruling that established the Constitutional right Read More

The Brunswick County, North Carolina Board of Education recently marked a substantial change when the group declined to pray at the outset of its routine May meeting. The board had revised its prayer practice to the neutral and more constitutionally permissible “moment of silence” several months earlier.       How the Case Arose Brunswick County board members Read More

A brother and sister in California were recently banned from high school after they refused to wear masks on the first day of school. The father of the siblings reported that the children were told to leave Charter Schools Temecula Student Center and not come back regardless of whether or not they were wearing masks. Read More

The United States Supreme Court recently held that the City of Philadelphia went too far in applying its anti-discrimination law to a Catholic charity after it declined to permit same-sex parents to adopt foster children. The justices in this case noted that the Constitution permits a religious freedom exception to anti-discrimination laws. Importantly, the case Read More

According to a bill signed in late 2020 by Governor DeWine of Ohio, fetal remains from surgical abortions must be either buried or cremated. The non-theistic religious group, the Satanic Temple, however, is threatening legal action because the group argues that the state cannot dictate burial practices to religious organizations. This burial law brings up Read More