No. 25-448

Michael Poffenbarger v. Troy E. Meink, Secretary of the Air Force, et al.

Lower Court: Sixth Circuit
Docketed: 2025-10-14
Status: Pending
Type: Paid
Amici (1) Experienced Counsel
Tags: back-pay equitable-relief judicial-estoppel reinstatement religious-freedom-restoration-act retirement-points
Key Terms:
AdministrativeLaw SocialSecurity FirstAmendment Securities JusticiabilityDoctri
Latest Conference: 2026-02-20
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether RFRA permits the equitable relief of reinstatement, including back pay and retirement points, and whether Respondents are judicially estopped from arguing against such relief

Question Presented (from Petition)

are: 1. Whether RFRA permits the equitable relief of reinstatement, to include back pay and retirement points. 2. Whether Respondents are judicially estopped from arguing that back pay and retirement points may not be awarded under RFRA when, a year earlier, they successf ully argued the opposite position to prevent preliminary injunctive relief extending to reinstatement of reservists.

Docket Entries

2026-01-29
Reply of Michael Poffenbarger, et al. submitted.
2026-01-29
Reply of petitioner Michael Poffenbarger filed. (Distributed)
2026-01-28
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 2/20/2026.
2026-01-14
Brief of Meink, Sec. Air Force, et al. in opposition submitted.
2026-01-14
Brief of respondents Troy E. Meink, Secretary of the Air Force, et al. in opposition filed.
2025-12-02
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is further extended to and including January 14, 2026.
2025-12-01
Motion of Meink, Sec. Air Force, et al. for an extension of time submitted.
2025-12-01
Motion to extend the time to file a response from December 15, 2025 to January 14, 2026, submitted to The Clerk.
2025-11-12
Amicus brief of First Liberty Institute and Ave Maria School of Law submitted.
2025-11-12
Brief amici curiae of First Liberty Institute, et al. filed.
2025-11-05
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including December 15, 2025.
2025-11-04
Motion of Meink, Sec. Air Force, et al. for an extension of time submitted.
2025-11-04
Motion to extend the time to file a response from November 13, 2025 to December 15, 2025, submitted to The Clerk.
2025-10-09
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due November 13, 2025)
2025-07-23
Application (25A96) granted by Justice Kavanaugh extending the time to file until October 9, 2025.
2025-07-19
Application (25A96) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from August 10, 2025 to October 9, 2025, submitted to Justice Kavanaugh.

Attorneys

First Liberty Institute and Ave Maria School of Law
Antony B. KolencAve Maria School of Law, Amicus
Antony B. KolencAve Maria School of Law, Amicus
Antony B. KolencAve Maria School of Law, Amicus
Meink, Sec. Air Force, et al.
D. John SauerSolicitor General, Respondent
D. John SauerSolicitor General, Respondent
D. John SauerSolicitor General, Respondent
Michael Poffenbarger, et al.
Thomas B. BrunsBruns, Connell, Vollmar & Armstrong, LLC, Petitioner
Thomas B. BrunsBruns, Connell, Vollmar & Armstrong, LLC, Petitioner
Thomas B. BrunsBruns, Connell, Vollmar & Armstrong, LLC, Petitioner
Aaron SiriSiri & Glimstad LLP, Petitioner
Aaron SiriSiri & Glimstad LLP, Petitioner
Aaron SiriSiri & Glimstad LLP, Petitioner
Elizabeth Ann BrehmSiri & Glimstad LLP, Petitioner
Elizabeth Ann BrehmSiri & Glimstad LLP, Petitioner
Elizabeth Ann BrehmSiri & Glimstad LLP, Petitioner