No. 22-174

Gerald E. Groff v. Louis DeJoy, Postmaster General

Lower Court: Third Circuit
Docketed: 2022-08-25
Status: Judgment Issued
Type: Paid
Amici (57)Relisted (2) Experienced Counsel
Tags: civil-rights co-worker-burden de-minimis employment-discrimination hardison religious-accommodation religious-pluralism title-vii undue-hardship
Key Terms:
SocialSecurity ERISA EmploymentDiscrimina WageAndHour JusticiabilityDoctri
Latest Conference: 2023-01-13 (distributed 2 times)
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether the Court should disapprove the Hardison test for refusing Title VII religious accommodations

Question Presented (OCR Extract)

QUESTIONS PRESENTED Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 generally prohibits an employer from discriminating against an individual “because of such individual’s * * * religion.” 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000e-2(a)(1), (2). The statute defines “religion” to include “all aspects of religious observance and practice, as well as belief, unless an employer demonstrates that he is unable to reasonably accommodate to an employee’s or prospective employee’s religious observance or practice without undue hardship on the conduct of the employer’s business.” Jd. § 2000e(j). In Trans World Airlines, Inc. v. Hardison, 432 U.S. 63 (1977), this Court stated that an employer suffers an “andue hardship” in accommodating an employee’s religious exercise whenever doing so would require the employer “to bear more than a de minimis cost.” Jd. at 84. The questions presented are: 1.Whether this Court should disapprove the test for refusing Title VII religious accommodations stated in Trans World Airlines, Inc. v. Hardison, 432 U.S. 68 (1977). 2.Whether an employer may demonstrate “undue hardship on the conduct of the employer’s business” under Title VII merely by showing that the requested accommodation burdens the employee’s co-workers rather than the business itself.

Docket Entries

2023-07-31
Judgment issued.
2023-06-29
Judgment VACATED and case REMANDED. Alito, J., delivered the <a href = 'https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/22pdf/22-174_k536.pdf'>opinion</a> for a unanimous Court. Sotomayor, J., filed a concurring opinion, in which Jackson, J., joined.
2023-04-18
Argued. For petitioner: Aaron Streett, Houston, Tex. For respondent: Elizabeth B. Prelogar, Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C.
2023-04-07
2023-04-07
Letter filed. (Distributed)
2023-03-30
Brief amicus curiae of The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) filed. (Distributed)
2023-03-30
Brief amici curiae of National Rural Letter Carriers' Association, et al. filed. (Distributed)
2023-03-30
Brief amici curiae of Center For Inquiry and American Atheists, Inc. filed. (Distributed)
2023-03-30
2023-03-30
Brief amici curiae of Local Government Legal Center, National Association of Counties, National League of Cities, and the International Municipal Lawyers Association filed. (Distributed)
2023-03-30
2023-03-30
Brief amici curiae of Americans United for Separation of Church and State and Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, Inc. filed. (Distributed)
2023-03-30
Brief amicus curiae of American Postal Workers Union, AFL-CIO filed. (Distributed)
2023-03-30
Brief amicus curiae of The Freedom from Religion Foundation filed. (Distributed)
2023-03-24
CIRCULATED
2023-03-23
Brief of respondent Louis DeJoy, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service filed. (April 7, 2023) (Distributed)
2023-03-23
Brief of respondent Louis DeJoy, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service filed.(Corrected version submitted)
2023-03-06
Brief amici curiae of National Employment Lawyers Association, et al. in support of neither party filed.
2023-02-28
Brief amicus curiae of Robert P. Roesser filed. (Docket entry corrected 3/6/23)
2023-02-28
2023-02-28
Brief amici curiae of The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada, The Atlantic Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, The North Pacific Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, The National Council of Young Israel filed.
2023-02-28
2023-02-28
2023-02-28
2023-02-28
Brief amici curiae of Former EEOC General Counsel and Title VII Religious Accommodation Expert filed.
2023-02-28
2023-02-28
Brief amici curiae of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, et al. filed.
2023-02-28
2023-02-28
2023-02-28
Brief amicus curiae of The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America filed.
2023-02-28
2023-02-28
Brief amici curiae of Thomas More Society and The Jewish Coalition for Religious Liberty filed.
2023-02-28
2023-02-28
2023-02-28
2023-02-28
Brief amici curiae of Religious Liberty Scholars and Employment Law Scholars filed.
2023-02-28
Brief amicus curiae of General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists filed.
2023-02-28
Brief amici curiae of Citizens United, Citizens United Foundation, and The Presidential Coalition filed.
2023-02-28
Brief amicus curiae of Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law filed.
2023-02-28
Brief amici curiae of National Jewish Commission on Law and Public Affairs (“COLPA”) and Other Jewish Organizations filed.
2023-02-28
Brief amicus curiae of Robertson Center for Constitutional Law filed.
2023-02-28
Brief amici curiae of Over 400 Physicians, Surgeons, Nurses, and Medical Professionals Who Support Religious Liberty filed.
2023-02-28
2023-02-28
2023-02-28
2023-02-28
2023-02-28
2023-02-28
2023-02-27
Brief amici curiae of Alabama Center for Law and Liberty and Constitutional Attorneys filed.
2023-02-27
2023-02-23
2023-02-23
Brief amici curiae of Jeffrey Podell and the Rieders Foundation filed.
2023-02-21
Joint appendix filed. (Statement of costs filed)
2023-02-21
2023-02-15
Record received from the U.S.C.A.-3d Circuit containing electronic record from both District Court and Court of Appeals.
2023-02-08
Record requested from the U.S.C.A.-3d Circuit.
2023-01-31
SET FOR ARGUMENT on Tuesday, April 18, 2023.
2023-01-13
Petition GRANTED.
2023-01-09
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/13/2023.
2022-12-14
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/6/2023.
2022-12-13
2022-11-28
Brief of respondent Louis DeJoy, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service in opposition filed.
2022-11-14
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is further extended to and including November 28, 2022.
2022-11-10
Motion to extend the time to file a response from November 25, 2022 to November 28, 2022, submitted to The Clerk.
2022-10-12
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is further extended to and including November 25, 2022.
2022-10-11
Motion to extend the time to file a response from October 26, 2022 to November 25, 2022, submitted to The Clerk.
2022-09-26
2022-09-26
2022-09-26
2022-09-26
2022-09-26
Brief amici curiae of General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists and Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America filed.
2022-09-26
Brief amici curiae of Thomas More Society and The Jewish Coalition for Religious Liberty filed.
2022-09-26
2022-09-26
Brief amici curiae of Former EEOC General Counsel and Title VII Religious Accommodation Expert filed.
2022-09-26
Brief amici curiae of Religious Liberty Scholars and Employment Law Scholars filed.
2022-09-26
2022-09-23
Brief amici curiae of National Jewish Commission on Law and Public Affairs, et al. filed.
2022-09-23
2022-09-22
2022-09-22
2022-09-19
Blanket Consent filed by Respondent, Louis DeJoy, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service
2022-09-12
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including October 26, 2022.
2022-09-09
Motion to extend the time to file a response from September 26, 2022 to October 26, 2022, submitted to The Clerk.
2022-08-30
Blanket Consent filed by Petitioner, Gerald E. Groff
2022-08-23
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due September 26, 2022)

Attorneys

Airline Employees for Health Freedom
John Clay SullivanS | L Law PLLC, Amicus
John Clay SullivanS | L Law PLLC, Amicus
Airlines for America
Anton MetlitskyO'Melveny & Myers, LLP, Amicus
Anton MetlitskyO'Melveny & Myers, LLP, Amicus
Alabama Center for Law and Liberty
Matthew James ClarkAlabama Center for Law and Liberty, Amicus
Matthew James ClarkAlabama Center for Law and Liberty, Amicus
American Center for Law and Justice
Jay Alan Sekulow — Amicus
Jay Alan Sekulow — Amicus
American Constitutional Rights Union
John Joseph Park Jr.Law Offices of Jack Park, Amicus
John Joseph Park Jr.Law Offices of Jack Park, Amicus
American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations
Andrew LyubarskyAFL-CIO, Amicus
Andrew LyubarskyAFL-CIO, Amicus
American Hindu Coalition
Matthew Theodore MartensWilmerHale, Amicus
Matthew Theodore MartensWilmerHale, Amicus
American Postal Workers Union
Michael Timothy AndersonMurphy Anderson PLLC, Amicus
Michael Timothy AndersonMurphy Anderson PLLC, Amicus
Americans for Fair Treatment
David Randel OsborneGoldstein Law Partners, LLP, Amicus
David Randel OsborneGoldstein Law Partners, LLP, Amicus
Americans United for Separation of Church and State and Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, Inc.
Joshua Adam MatzKaplan Hecker & Fink LLP, Amicus
Joshua Adam MatzKaplan Hecker & Fink LLP, Amicus
Amici States of Washington et al.
Karl David SmithWashington State Attorney General's Office, Amicus
Karl David SmithWashington State Attorney General's Office, Amicus
Asma T. Uddin and Steven T. Collis
Steven Timothy CollisUniversity of Texas Law, Amicus
Steven Timothy CollisUniversity of Texas Law, Amicus
Catholicvote.org Education Fund
Antony B. Kolenc — Amicus
Antony B. Kolenc — Amicus
Center For Inquiry and American Atheists, Inc.
Edward Z. Tabash — Amicus
Edward Z. Tabash — Amicus
Christian Legal Society, Karamah, Association of Christian Schools International, Rutherford Institute, Institutional Religious Freedom Alliance
Thomas Charles BergReligious Liberty Appellate Clinic, Amicus
Thomas Charles BergReligious Liberty Appellate Clinic, Amicus
Kimberlee Wood ColbyChristian Legal Society, Amicus
Kimberlee Wood ColbyChristian Legal Society, Amicus
Citizens United, Citizens United Foundation, and The Presidential Coalition
Gary Michael LawkowskiDhillon Law Group, Inc., Amicus
Gary Michael LawkowskiDhillon Law Group, Inc., Amicus
Council on American-Islamic Relations
John Saoirse FriendFriend Law, PSC, Amicus
John Saoirse FriendFriend Law, PSC, Amicus
Former EEOC General Counsel and Title VII Religious Accommodation Expert
Rachel Nicole MorrisonEthics & Public Policy Center, Amicus
Rachel Nicole MorrisonEthics & Public Policy Center, Amicus
Founders’ First Freedom, Inc.
Walter Edward Carson — Amicus
Walter Edward Carson — Amicus
General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
Gene Clayton SchaerrSchaerr | Jaffe, Amicus
Gene Clayton SchaerrSchaerr | Jaffe, Amicus
General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists and Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America
Christopher E. MillsSpero Law LLC, Amicus
Christopher E. MillsSpero Law LLC, Amicus
Gerald E. Groff
Aaron Michael StreettBaker Botts, L.L.P., Petitioner
Aaron Michael StreettBaker Botts, L.L.P., Petitioner
Jeffrey Podell and the Rieders Foundation
Clifford A. Rieders — Amicus
Clifford A. Rieders — Amicus
John Kluge
John J. BurschAlliance Defending Freedom, Amicus
John J. BurschAlliance Defending Freedom, Amicus
Joseph B. Holland, Jr.
Robert P. GeorgeRobinson & McElwee PLLC, Amicus
Robert P. GeorgeRobinson & McElwee PLLC, Amicus
Liberty Counsel
Mathew D. StaverLiberty Counsel, Amicus
Mathew D. StaverLiberty Counsel, Amicus
Local Government Legal Center, National Association of Counties, National League of Cities, and the International Municipal Lawyers Association
F. Andrew Hessick III — Amicus
F. Andrew Hessick III — Amicus
Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law
Thomas Ryan McCarthyConsovoy McCarthy PLLC, Amicus
Thomas Ryan McCarthyConsovoy McCarthy PLLC, Amicus
Louis DeJoy, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service
Elizabeth B. PrelogarSolicitor General, Respondent
Elizabeth B. Prelogar — Respondent
Members of the United States Congress
Sarah Elizabeth ChildNelson Madden Black LLP, Amicus
Sarah Elizabeth ChildNelson Madden Black LLP, Amicus
Muslim Public Affairs Council
Joshua Craig McDanielHarvard Law School Religious Freedom Clinic, Amicus
Joshua Craig McDanielHarvard Law School Religious Freedom Clinic, Amicus
National Employment Lawyers Association & National Institute For Worker's Rights
Michael L. ForemanPenn State Law - Civil Rights Appellate Clinic, Amicus
Michael L. ForemanPenn State Law - Civil Rights Appellate Clinic, Amicus
National Jewish Commission on Law and Public Affairs (“COLPA”) and Other Jewish Organizations
Nathan LewinLewin & Lewin, LLP, Amicus
Nathan LewinLewin & Lewin, LLP, Amicus
National Rural Letter Carriers' Association, et al.
Jacob Raffel KarabellBredhoff & Kaiser, P.L.L.C., Amicus
Jacob Raffel KarabellBredhoff & Kaiser, P.L.L.C., Amicus
Over 400 Physicians, Surgeons, Nurses, and Medical Professionals Who Support Religious Liberty
Erin Elizabeth MersinoThomas More Law Center, Amicus
Erin Elizabeth MersinoThomas More Law Center, Amicus
Religious Liberty Scholars and Employment Law Scholars
John Archer MeiserNotre Dame Law School Religious Liberty Clinic, Amicus
John Archer MeiserNotre Dame Law School Religious Liberty Clinic, Amicus
Robert P. Roesser
Bruce N. CameronNational Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, Amicus
Bruce N. CameronNational Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, Amicus
Robertson Center for Constitutional Law
Michael Lee FranciscoMcGuireWoods LLP, Amicus
Michael Lee FranciscoMcGuireWoods LLP, Amicus
State of West Virginia and 16 Other States
Lindsay Sara SeeOffice of the West Virginia Attorney General, Amicus
Lindsay Sara SeeOffice of the West Virginia Attorney General, Amicus
State of West Virginia and 21 Other States
Lindsay Sara SeeOffice of the West Virginia Attorney General, Amicus
The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO)
Harold Craig Becker — Amicus
Harold Craig Becker — Amicus
Matthew James GinsburgAmerican Fed. of Labor and Congress of Industrial , Amicus
Matthew James GinsburgAmerican Fed. of Labor and Congress of Industrial , Amicus
The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty
Mark Leonard RienziThe Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, Amicus
Mark Leonard RienziThe Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, Amicus
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints et al.
Richard Shawn GunnarsonKirton McConkie, Amicus
Richard Shawn GunnarsonKirton McConkie, Amicus
The Freedom from Religion Foundation
Elizabeth CavellFreedom From Religion Foundation, Amicus
Elizabeth CavellFreedom From Religion Foundation, Amicus
The Rutherford Institute
John W. WhiteheadThe Rutherford Institute, Amicus
John W. WhiteheadThe Rutherford Institute, Amicus
The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada, The Atlantic Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, The North Pacific Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, The National Council of Young Israel
Nicholas Robert ReavesYale Law School Free Exercise Clinic, Amicus
Nicholas Robert ReavesYale Law School Free Exercise Clinic, Amicus
The Sikh Coalition, Muslim Associates, and The Islam and Religious Freedom Action Team
Jonathan Zachary MorrisHorvitz & Levy LLP, Amicus
Jonathan Zachary MorrisHorvitz & Levy LLP, Amicus
The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America
Eric Christopher RassbachPepperdine University Caruso School of Law , Amicus
Eric Christopher RassbachPepperdine University Caruso School of Law , Amicus
Thomas More Society and The Jewish Coalition for Religious Liberty
Thomas L. Brejcha Jr.Thomas More Society, Amicus
Thomas L. Brejcha Jr.Thomas More Society, Amicus
Zionist Organization of America
Susan B. TuchmanZionist Organization of America, Amicus
Susan B. TuchmanZionist Organization of America, Amicus