No. 25-849

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops v. David O'Connell

Lower Court: District of Columbia
Docketed: 2026-01-15
Status: Pending
Type: Paid
Amici (1)Response RequestedResponse Waived
Tags: church-autonomy constitutional-claims legal-defense neutral-principles religious-offering state-power
Key Terms:
FirstAmendment JusticiabilityDoctri ClassAction
Latest Conference: 2026-02-20
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether church autonomy provides a structural limit on state power that protects churches from the burdens of litigating unconstitutional claims; Whether a church may immediately appeal a dispositive church autonomy defense that was denied on legal grounds; Whether the 'neutral principles' approach applies outside the church property context to a dispute over a church's description and use of an offering that was used solely for religious purposes

Question Presented (from Petition)

are: 1. Whether church autonomy provides a structural limit on state power that protects churches from the burdens of litigating unconstitutional claims. 2. Whether a church may immediately appeal a dispositive church autonomy defense that was denied on legal grounds. 3. Whether the “neutral principles” approach applies outside the church property context to a dispute over a church’s description and use of an offering that was used solely for religious purposes.

Docket Entries

2026-02-11
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including April 3, 2026.
2026-02-09
Motion of David O'Connell for an extension of time submitted.
2026-02-09
Motion to extend the time to file a response from March 6, 2026 to April 3, 2026, submitted to The Clerk.
2026-02-04
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 2/20/2026.
2026-02-04
Response Requested. (Due March 6, 2026)
2026-02-02
Waiver of David O'Connell of right to respond submitted.
2026-02-02
Waiver of right of respondent David O'Connell to respond filed.
2026-01-23
Amicus brief of Christian Legal Society, Thomas More Society, the National Association of Evangelicals, Christian and Missionary Alliance, Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, and Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod submitted.
2026-01-23
Brief amici curiae of Christian Legal Society, et al. filed.
2026-01-13
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due February 17, 2026)

Attorneys

Christian Legal Society
Steven T. McFarlandSuite 302, Amicus
Christian Legal Society, Thomas More Society, National Association of Evangelicals, Christian and Missionary Alliance, Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, and Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
Steven T. McFarlandSuite 302, Amicus
Laura Darien NammoCenter for Law & Religious Freedom, Amicus
Christian Legal Society, Thomas More Society, the National Association of Evangelicals, Christian and Missionary Alliance, Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, and Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
Laura Darien NammoCenter for Law & Religious Freedom, Amicus
David O'Connell
Gabriel Zachiah DobleDovel & Luner, LLP, Respondent
Gabriel Zachiah DobleDovel & Luner, LLP, Respondent
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Daniel Howard BlombergThe Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, Petitioner
Daniel Howard BlombergThe Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, Petitioner