Explore 23 court opinions on First Amendment Free Exercise Clause. AI-powered plain English summaries, key holdings, and legal analysis.
23 recent cases analyzed in this topic area.
Ninth Circuit Affirms Dismissal of "Muslim Ban" and Retaliation Claims
Pacito v. Trump, decided by Ninth Circuit on March 5, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Ninth Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of a lawsuit brought by Pacito against former...
Fourth Circuit Affirms Denial of Injunction Against AG's Investigation
Mario Lopez v. Pamela Bondi, decided by Fourth Circuit on February 13, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Fourth Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of a preliminary injunction so...
Texas Religious Freedom Disclaimer Law Upheld on Appeal
Hays County, Texas, Ruben Becerra, Debbie Ingalsbe, Michelle Cohen, Morgan Hammer, and Walt Smith, in Their Official Capacities v. Leslie Carnes, Jim Camp, Cathy Ramsey, Gabrielle Moore, and Ken Paxto...
Ninth Circuit: State background check laws don't violate religious freedom
Union Gospel Mission of Yakima Washington v. Brown, decided by Ninth Circuit on January 6, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Ninth Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of a law...
Court Blocks Michigan Law Forcing Religious Adoption Agencies to Place Children
Catholic Charities of Jackson v. Gretchen Whitmer, decided by Sixth Circuit on December 17, 2025, resulted in a plaintiff win outcome. The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals reviewed a preliminary injunct...
Court Affirms Dismissal of Student's Discrimination Claims
J.M. v. New York City Dept. of Ed., decided by Second Circuit on December 9, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Second Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a student's claims against the New ...
Eleventh Circuit: No-Knock Warrant Policy Unconstitutional Without Specific Justification
Ahmed S. Ismael v. Sheriff Richard Roundtree, decided by Eleventh Circuit on December 5, 2025, resulted in a mixed outcome. This case concerns whether the Sheriff's Department's "no-knock" warrant pol...
Churches lack standing to challenge state law on abortion funding
Rhode Island State Council of Churches v. Rollins, decided by First Circuit on November 9, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The First Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of a law...
Fifth Circuit Upholds School Dress Code Against First Amendment Challenge
Arnold v. Barbers Hill Indep Sch Dist, decided by Fifth Circuit on November 3, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Fifth Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of a preliminary injunc...
Inmate's religious material ban upheld as reasonable restriction
Palmore, C. , Aplt. v. DOC, decided by Pennsylvania Supreme Court on September 25, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The appellant, Palmore, challenged the Department of Corrections' (DOC) po...
Ninth Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Challenge to Trump Travel Ban
Pacito v. Trump, decided by Ninth Circuit on September 12, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Ninth Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of a lawsuit brought by Pacito against f...
First Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Public Records Law Challenge
Shabshelowitz v. Rhode Island Department of Public Safety, decided by First Circuit on September 12, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The First Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a lawsuit al...
School Lacks Standing to Sue Over LGBTQ+ Anti-Discrimination Rule
Mid Vermont Christian School v. Saunders, decided by Second Circuit on September 9, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Second Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a lawsuit brought by Mid Ver...
Ninth Circuit: Guam Legislature Can Choose Who Offers Invocation
The Satanic Temple v. Labrador, decided by Ninth Circuit on September 2, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Satanic Temple (TST) sued the Governor of Guam, Lou Leon Guerrero, and other off...
Ninth Circuit Affirms Dismissal of RLUIPA and Contract Claims Against Former Employee
Foothills Christian Ministries v. Johnson, decided by Ninth Circuit on August 14, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Ninth Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of a lawsuit brou...
Eighth Circuit Affirms Summary Judgment for School District in Religious Discrimination Case
Don Huizenga v. ISD No. 11, decided by Eighth Circuit on August 11, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Eighth Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of summary judgment to the defenda...
Ninth Circuit: Religious hiring practices protected by ministerial exception
McMahon v. World Vision Inc., decided by Ninth Circuit on August 5, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Ninth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a lawsuit alleging that World Vision's religi...
Ninth Circuit Upholds LAUSD Vaccine Mandate for Employees
Health Freedom Defense Fund, Inc. v. Alberto Carvalho, decided by Ninth Circuit on July 30, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Ninth Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of a ch...
Neighbor's zoning opposition doesn't violate RLUIPA or First Amendment
Cedar Park Assembly of God of Kirkland, Washington v. Patty Kuderer, decided by Ninth Circuit on July 29, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Ninth Circuit affirmed the district court's gra...
Sikh man's challenge to Illinois' religious garb ban at polls fails
Gurkirat Singh v. Pamela J. Bondi, decided by Seventh Circuit on July 24, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Seventh Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of a preliminary injunctio...
Court Upholds Prison's Ban on Religious Literature
Alberty v. Hunter, decided by Second Circuit on July 21, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Second Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of a preliminary injunction, holding that th...
Ninth Circuit: Prison diet restrictions can be constitutional if reasonably related to penological interests
Spencer v. Barajas, decided by Ninth Circuit on June 6, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Ninth Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of a preliminary injunction sought by Spencer,...
Ministerial Exception Applies to Catholic Charities Employee's Unemployment Benefits
Catholic Charities Bureau, Inc. v. Wisconsin Labor and Industry Review Comm'n. Revisions: 6/06/25, decided by Supreme Court of the United States on June 5, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. T...