No. 25-581

St. Mary Catholic Parish, Littleton, Colorado, et al. v. Lisa Roy, in Her Official Capacity as Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Early Childhood, et al.

Lower Court: Tenth Circuit
Docketed: 2025-11-17
Status: Pending
Type: Paid
Amici (23)Response RequestedResponse Waived Experienced Counsel
Tags: constitutional-law discretion employment-division-v-smith general-applicability religious-freedom secular-conduct
Key Terms:
FirstAmendment Securities JusticiabilityDoctri
Latest Conference: 2026-01-09
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether proving a lack of general applicability under Employment Division v. Smith requires showing unfettered discretion or categorical exemptions for identical secular conduct

Question Presented (from Petition)

are: 1. Whether proving a lack of general applicability under Employment Division v. Smith requires showing unfettered discretion or categorical exemptions for identical secular conduct. ii 2. Whether Carson v. Makin displaces the rule of Employment Division v. Smith only when the government explicitly excludes religious people and institutions . 3. Whether Employment Division v. Smith should be overruled . iii RULE 29.6 DISCLOSURE STATEMENT No Petitioner has a parent corporation. No publicly held corporation owns any portion of any of the Petitioners, and none of the Petitioners is a subsidiary or an affiliate of any publicly owned corporation.

Docket Entries

2026-01-30
Brief amicus curiae of United States in support of the petitioners filed.
2026-01-30
Brief amicus curiae of United States filed.
2026-01-30
Brief amicus curiae of Protect the First Foundation filed.
2026-01-30
Amicus brief of United States submitted.
2026-01-30
Amicus brief of Protect the First Foundation submitted.
2026-01-05
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including March 2, 2026.
2026-01-02
Motion to extend the time to file a response from January 30, 2026 to March 2, 2026, submitted to The Clerk.
2026-01-02
Motion of Lisa Roy, et al. for an extension of time submitted.
2025-12-31
Response Requested. (Due January 30, 2026)
2025-12-23
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/9/2026.
2025-12-17
Amicus brief of Dr. Richard Rogers submitted.
2025-12-17
Amicus brief of Thomas More Society submitted.
2025-12-17
Brief amicus curiae of Darren Patterson Christian Academy filed.
2025-12-17
Brief amicus curiae of United States Conference of Catholic Bishops filed.
2025-12-17
Brief amici curiae of The Notre Dame Education Law Project, et al, filed.
2025-12-17
Brief amici curiae of EdChoice, Inc., et al. filed.
2025-12-17
Brief amici curiae of National Association of Evangelicals, et al. filed.
2025-12-17
Brief amici curiae of West Virginia, et al. filed.
2025-12-17
Brief amicus curiae of Thomas More Society filed.
2025-12-17
Brief amicus curiae of Center for American Liberty filed.
2025-12-17
Brief amicus curiae of Robertson Center for Constitutional Law filed.
2025-12-17
Brief amicus curiae of Stephanie Barclay filed.
2025-12-17
Brief amicus curiae of Dr. Richard Rogers filed.
2025-12-17
Brief amici curiae of The National Legal Foundation, et al. filed.
2025-12-17
Brief amici curiae of National Legal Foundation, et al. filed.
2025-12-17
Brief amicus curiae of America's Future filed. (Distributed)
2025-12-17
Brief amicus curiae of Foundation for Moral Law filed. (Distributed)
2025-12-17
Brief amicus curiae of Colorado Association of Private Schools filed. (Distributed)
2025-12-17
Brief amici curiae of Pioneer New England Legal Foundation, et al. filed. (Distributed)
2025-12-17
Amicus brief of America's Future submitted.
2025-12-17
Amicus brief of Robertson Center for Constitutional Law submitted.
2025-12-17
Amicus brief of CENTER FOR AMERICAN LIBERTY submitted.
2025-12-17
Amicus brief of Darren Patterson Christian Academy submitted.
2025-12-17
Amicus brief of Stephanie Barclay submitted.
2025-12-17
Amicus brief of Foundation for Moral Law submitted.
2025-12-17
Amicus brief of Colorado Association of Private Schools submitted.
2025-12-17
Amicus brief of EdChoice Legal Advocates submitted.
2025-12-17
Amicus brief of State of West Virginia and 21 Other States submitted.
2025-12-17
Amicus brief of The Notre Dame Education Law Project, Islam And Religious Freedom Action Team, Jewish Coalition For Religious Liberty, And Manhattan Institute submitted.
2025-12-17
Amicus brief of United States Conference of Catholic Bishops submitted.
2025-12-17
Amicus brief of Pioneer New England Legal Foundation and Massachusetts Family Institute submitted.
2025-12-17
Amicus brief of The National Legal Foundation, Illinois Family Institute, Wisconsin Family Action, Delaware Family Policy Council, Concerned Women for America, Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty, and International Conference of Evangelical Chaplain Endorsers submitted.
2025-12-15
Brief amicus curiae of Sutherland Institute filed.
2025-12-15
Waiver of St. Mary Catholic Parish in Littleton, et al. of right to respond submitted.
2025-12-15
Amicus brief of Sutherland Institute submitted.
2025-12-15
Waiver of Lisa Roy, et al. of right to respond submitted.
2025-12-12
Waiver of Lisa Roy, et al. of right to respond submitted.
2025-12-12
Waiver of St. Mary Catholic Parish in Littleton, et al. of right to respond submitted.
2025-12-12
Waiver of right of respondent Lisa Roy, et al. to respond filed.
2025-12-04
Brief amicus curiae of Pacific Justice Institute filed.
2025-12-04
Amicus brief of Pacific Justice Institute submitted.
2025-12-03
Brief amici curiae of The Conscience Project, et al. filed.
2025-12-03
Amicus brief of The Conscience Project and Catholic Families submitted.
2025-11-13
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due December 17, 2025)

Attorneys

America's Future
William Jeffrey OlsonWilliam J. Olson, P.C., Amicus
William Jeffrey OlsonWilliam J. Olson, P.C., Amicus
William Jeffrey OlsonWilliam J. Olson, P.C., Amicus
Center for American Liberty
Joshua Wallace DixonCenter for American Liberty, Amicus
CENTER FOR AMERICAN LIBERTY
Joshua Wallace DixonCenter for American Liberty, Amicus
Center for American Liberty
Joshua Wallace DixonCenter for American Liberty, Amicus
Colorado Association of Private Schools
Ian Seth SpeirCovenant Law PLLC, Amicus
Ian Seth SpeirCovenant Law PLLC, Amicus
Ian Seth SpeirCovenant Law PLLC, Amicus
Darren Patterson Christian Academy
John J. BurschAlliance Defending Freedom, Amicus
John J. BurschAlliance Defending Freedom, Amicus
John J. BurschAlliance Defending Freedom, Amicus
Dr. Richard Rogers
Brian Kirk KelseyAmerica First Policy Institute, Amicus
Brian Kirk KelseyAmerica First Policy Institute, Amicus
Brian Kirk KelseyAmerica First Policy Institute, Amicus
EdChoice Legal Advocates
Thomas M. FisherEdChoice, Inc., Amicus
Thomas M. FisherEdChoice, Inc., Amicus
Thomas M. FisherEdChoice, Inc., Amicus
Foundation for Moral Law
John Allen EidsmoeFoundation for Moral Law, Amicus
John Allen EidsmoeFoundation for Moral Law, Amicus
John Allen EidsmoeFoundation for Moral Law, Amicus
Lisa Roy, et al.
Helen NortonColorado Department of Law, Respondent
Helen NortonColorado Department of Law, Respondent
Helen NortonColorado Department of Law, Respondent
National Association of Evangelicals, et al.
Richard Shawn GunnarsonKirton McConkie, Amicus
Richard Shawn GunnarsonKirton McConkie, Amicus
Richard Shawn GunnarsonKirton McConkie, Amicus
Pacific Justice Institute
Kevin T. Snider — Amicus
Kevin T. Snider — Amicus
Kevin T. Snider — Amicus
Pioneer New England Legal Foundation and Massachusetts Family Institute
Frank Joseph BaileyPioneer Legal, LLC, Amicus
Frank Joseph BaileyPioneer Legal, LLC, Amicus
Frank Joseph BaileyPioneer Legal, LLC, Amicus
Protect the First Foundation
Gene Clayton SchaerrSchaerr | Jaffe, Amicus
Gene Clayton SchaerrSchaerr | Jaffe, Amicus
Gene Clayton SchaerrSchaerr | Jaffe, Amicus
Robertson Center for Constitutional Law
Laura Brown HernandezRobertson Center for Constitutional Law, Amicus
Laura Brown HernandezRobertson Center for Constitutional Law, Amicus
Laura Brown HernandezRobertson Center for Constitutional Law, Amicus
St. Mary Catholic Parish in Littleton, et al.
Eric Christopher RassbachThe Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, Petitioner
Eric Christopher RassbachThe Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, Petitioner
Eric Christopher RassbachThe Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, Petitioner
State of West Virginia and 21 Other States
Michael Ray WilliamsOffice of the West Virginia Attorney General, Amicus
Michael Ray WilliamsOffice of the West Virginia Attorney General, Amicus
Michael Ray WilliamsOffice of the West Virginia Attorney General, Amicus
Stephanie Barclay
Matthew Steven GregoryGibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, Amicus
Matthew Steven GregoryGibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, Amicus
Matthew Steven GregoryGibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, Amicus
Sutherland Institute
William C. Duncan — Amicus
William C. Duncan — Amicus
William C. Duncan — Amicus
The Conscience Project and Catholic Families
Andrea Marie Picciotti-Bayer — Amicus
Andrea Marie Picciotti-Bayer — Amicus
Andrea Marie Picciotti-Bayer — Amicus
The National Legal Foundation, Illinois Family Institute, Wisconsin Family Action, Delaware Family Policy Council, Concerned Women for America, Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty, and International Conference of Evangelical Chaplain Endorsers
Frederick W. Claybrook Jr.Claybrook, LLC, Amicus
Frederick W. Claybrook Jr.Claybrook, LLC, Amicus
Frederick W. Claybrook Jr.Claybrook, LLC, Amicus
The Notre Dame Education Law Project, Islam And Religious Freedom Action Team, Jewish Coalition For Religious Liberty, And Manhattan Institute
John Archer MeiserLindsay and Matt Moroun Religious Liberty Clinic, Amicus
John Archer MeiserLindsay and Matt Moroun Religious Liberty Clinic, Amicus
John Archer MeiserLindsay and Matt Moroun Religious Liberty Clinic, Amicus
Thomas More Society
Thomas L. Brejcha Jr.Thomas More Society, Amicus
Thomas L. Brejcha Jr.Thomas More Society, Amicus
Thomas L. Brejcha Jr.Thomas More Society, Amicus
United States
D. John SauerSolicitor General, Amicus
D. John SauerSolicitor General, Amicus
D. John SauerSolicitor General, Amicus
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Scott A. KellerLehotsky Keller Cohn LLP, Amicus
Scott A. KellerLehotsky Keller Cohn LLP, Amicus
Scott A. KellerLehotsky Keller Cohn LLP, Amicus