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Amicus Brief Database

Amicus curiae, literally "friend of the court," briefs have proven to be one of the most effective means of addressing antisemitism, hate, discrimination and bigotry.

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  • Discrimination
  • (-) Free Exercise of Religion
  • (-) Separation of Church & State

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11 Results

Chelsey Nelson Photography, LLC v. Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government (U.S.C.A., 6th Circuit, 2023)

Amicus Brief
At issue in this case is a wedding photographer who seeks a religious exemption to Louisville's  anti-discrimination ordinance for the purpose of denying wedding-related services to same-sex couples. ADL joined 14 other faith-based organizations in a brief led by Americans United for Separation of Church and State. The brief argues that the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment does not require granting the photographer a religious exemption to this neutral, generally…
Read more about Chelsey Nelson Photography, LLC v. Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government (U.S.C.A., 6th Circuit, 2023)

Kennedy v. Bremerton School District (U.S. Supreme Court, 2022)

Amicus Brief
This case involves a public high school football coach who filed a lawsuit claiming religious discrimination under the Free Exercise Clause and employment discrimination laws after he was fired for refusing to stop kneeling in prayer at the football field's 50-yard line immediately following every game. This practice started after the school district directed him to stop leading his team in pre- and post-game prayer, which the coach had done for eight years prior. The lower courts repeatedly…
Read more about Kennedy v. Bremerton School District (U.S. Supreme Court, 2022)

Carson v. Makin (U.S. Supreme Court, 2021)

Amicus Brief
At issue in this case is a free exercise challenge to a Maine secondary school tuition assistance program. To provide for high school education in over half of the State’s school districts that do not have public secondary schools, Maine pays for students to attend public or private schools which provide secular education, including religiously affiliated schools that do not indoctrinate religion. The lawsuit was brought by parents seeking to send their children to religious schools. ADL…
Read more about Carson v. Makin (U.S. Supreme Court, 2021)

Updegrove v. Herring (U.S.D.C., Eastern District of Virginia, 2020)

Amicus Brief
At issue in this case is a business invoking the Free Exercise Clause to seek a religious exemption from a state anti-discrimination law for the purpose of denying wedding photography services to LGBTQ couples. In opposing this claim, the legal brief joined by ADL asserts that such an exemption is not authorized by the Free Exercise Clause and prohibited by the Establishment Clause. Furthermore, the sought exemption would undermine the state law’s prohibitions on religious discrimination…
Read more about Updegrove v. Herring (U.S.D.C., Eastern District of Virginia, 2020)

Legacy Church, Inc. v. Kunkel (U.S.C.A. 10th Circuit, 2020)

Amicus Brief
At issue in this case is a church invoking the Free Exercise Clause to seek a full exemption from a New Mexico coronavirus public-health order. The order limits indoor religious services to twenty-five percent of building capacity, which is similar to or less restrictive than limitations on comparable nonreligious activities. In opposing the church’s claim, the legal brief joined by ADL asserts that the public health order is fully consistent with all Free Exercise Clause standards…
Read more about Legacy Church, Inc. v. Kunkel (U.S.C.A. 10th Circuit, 2020)

High Plains Harvest Church v. Polis (U.S.C.A. 10th Circuit, 2020)

Amicus Brief
At issue in this case is a church invoking the Free Exercise Clause to seek a full exemption from a Colorado coronavirus public-health order. The order limits indoor religious services to the lesser of fifty people (one hundred for large houses of worship) or fifty-percent capacity per room, which is similar to or less restrictive than limitations on comparable nonreligious activities. In opposing the church’s claim, the legal brief joined by ADL asserts that the public health order is…
Read more about High Plains Harvest Church v. Polis (U.S.C.A. 10th Circuit, 2020)

Kennedy v. Bremerton School District (U.S.C.A. 9th Circuit, 2020)

Amicus Brief
This case involves a second appeal by a public high school football coach who filed a lawsuit claiming religious discrimination under the Free Exercise Clause and employment discrimination laws after he was fired for refusing to stop kneeling in prayer at the football field's 50-yard line immediately following every game. This practice started after the school district directed him to stop leading his team in pre- and post-game prayer, which the Coach had done for eight years prior. The Court…
Read more about Kennedy v. Bremerton School District (U.S.C.A. 9th Circuit, 2020)

Calvary Chapel of Bangor v. Janet Mills (U.S.C.A. 1st Circuit, 2020)

Amicus Brief
At issue in this case is a church invoking the Free Exercise Clause to seek a full exemption from a Maine coronavirus public-health order that equally limits religious and secular communal gatherings to 50 people or less. In rejecting this claim, the legal brief joined by ADL asserts that the order is fully consistent with all Free Exercise Clause standards. Furthermore, the sought exemption is not a permissible religious accommodation. It would violate the Establishment Clause by favoring the…
Read more about Calvary Chapel of Bangor v. Janet Mills (U.S.C.A. 1st Circuit, 2020)

303 Creative v. Elenis (U.S.C.A. 10th Circuit, 2020)

Amicus Brief
At issue in this case is a business that seeks a religious exemption from a state anti-discrimination law for the purpose of denying wedding-related services to LGBTQ couples. It, however, does not currently sell such services and there is no allegation that the business violated the law. ADL joined a legal brief filed by religious and civil rights organizations asserting that the business’ lawsuit is premature. Even if it was not, the requested exemption is not required by the Free…
Read more about 303 Creative v. Elenis (U.S.C.A. 10th Circuit, 2020)

Fields v. Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives (U.S.C.A. 3rd Circuit, 2019)

Amicus Brief
At issue in this case is the constitutionality of a Pennsylvania House of Representatives policy barring nontheists from serving as guest chaplains to offer the Chamber’s daily invocation. ADL’s brief asserts that the policy is unconstitutional for two reasons. First, it violates longstanding Establishment Clause precedent prohibiting government from preferring one religion over others. Second, the House’s justification that historically nontheists have not given invocations…
Read more about Fields v. Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives (U.S.C.A. 3rd Circuit, 2019)

Williamson v. Brevard County (U.S.C.A. 11th Circuit, 2018)

Amicus Brief
At issue in this case is the constitutionality of a county commission policy prohibiting non-theists from offering the opening prayer at commission meetings. A lower ruled that the policy violated the Establishment Clause to the First Amendment. ADL filed a brief on behalf of a diverse group of religious and civil rights organizations. The brief asserts that policy is unconstitutional for four reasons. First, it plainly violates the U.S. Supreme Court’s non-discrimination requirement for…
Read more about Williamson v. Brevard County (U.S.C.A. 11th Circuit, 2018)
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