| 25-6392 |
Christopher Tyler Bray v. Texas |
Texas |
2025-12-17 |
Pending |
IFP |
constitutional-law establishment-clause first-amendment free-exercise-clause government-interest religious-freedom |
What is the meaning of religion as it concerns the Free Exercise Clause and the Establishment Clause of the 1st Amendment, and what are the implicatio… |
| 25-6146 |
William G. Roberson, IV v. Thomas J. Dart, Sheriff, Cook County, Illinois |
Seventh Circuit |
2025-11-18 |
Denied |
IFP |
civil-rights establishment-clause first-amendment government-liability procedural-obstacles religious-coercion |
Whether the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment is violated when a pretrial detainee is compelled to attend a court hearing conducted in the s… |
| 25-6058 |
Raymond E. Lumsden v. Eric Guerrero, Director, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Correctional Institutions Division, et al. |
Fifth Circuit |
2025-11-06 |
Denied |
Response WaivedIFP |
equal-protection establishment-clause first-amendment prison-ministry religious-discrimination rluipa |
1. Does.Texas' Partnership With The 'Heart'Of Texas College
Of Ministry, A Solely Christian-Based Organization Housed
And Operated On A Texas Prison… |
| 25-256 |
Libby Hilsenrath, on Behalf of Her Minor Child, C. H. v. Chathams School District Board of Education |
Third Circuit |
2025-09-04 |
Denied |
|
establishment-clause first-amendment free-exercise-clause parental-rights public-school religious-freedom |
Whether a public school violates the Establishment Clause by assigning content that proselytizes for, extols, and gives favored treatment to Islam (or… |
| 24-1261 |
Cambridge Christian School, Inc. v. Florida High School Athletic Association, Inc. |
Eleventh Circuit |
2025-06-10 |
Denied |
Amici (24)Response RequestedRelisted (2) |
establishment-clause free-exercise free-speech government-speech religious-liberty santa-fe-doctrine |
Whether Santa Fe Independent School District v. Doe compels a finding of government speech where two private Christian schools sought to engage in com… |
| 24-396 |
St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School v. Gentner Drummond, Attorney General of Oklahoma, ex rel. Oklahoma |
Oklahoma |
2024-10-09 |
Judgment Issued |
Relisted (3) |
charter-schools establishment-clause free-exercise-clause pedagogical-choice religious-discrimination state-action |
Whether a state violates the Free Exercise Clause by excluding privately run religious schools from the state's charter school program solely because … |
| 24-394 |
Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board, et al. v. Gentner Drummond, Attorney General of Oklahoma, ex rel. Oklahoma |
Oklahoma |
2024-10-09 |
Judgment Issued |
Amici (2)Relisted (3) |
charter-schools educational-rights establishment-clause free-exercise-clause religious-discrimination state-action |
Whether a state violates the Free Exercise Clause by excluding privately run religious schools from a charter-school program solely based on religious… |
| 24-5654 |
Vincent L. Hepburn v. United States |
Tenth Circuit |
2024-09-27 |
Denied |
Response WaivedIFP |
damages-claim establishment-clause federal-tort-claims-act first-amendment official-capacity religious-freedom |
Whether federal employees can be held liable under the Federal Tort Claims Act for alleged Establishment Clause violations related to religious promot… |
| 23A683 |
Jill Hile, et al. v. Michigan, et al. |
Sixth Circuit |
2024-01-24 |
Presumed Complete |
|
constitutional-challenge education-funding establishment-clause first-amendment parent-advocacy school-choice |
Whether state-level educational choice policies that provide funding or support for alternative education options violate the Establishment Clause or … |
| 23-5799 |
Donald L. Missimer, Jr. v. Jay Forshey, Warden |
Ohio |
2023-10-18 |
Denied |
Response WaivedIFP |
civil-rights due-process establishment-clause free-exercise standing state-action |
Whether the Ohio Supreme Court erred in its interpretation and application of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the United States Con… |
| 23-39 |
Haseeb Abdullah v. Ken Paxton, Attorney General of Texas, et al. |
Fifth Circuit |
2023-07-14 |
Denied |
Response Waived |
article-iii civil-rights due-process establishment-clause fiduciary-duty first-amendment free-speech ideological-viewpoint standing |
Does a beneficiary have standing for a First Amendment challenge to a state statute requiring divestment from companies boycotting Israel? |
| 22-1093 |
Mark Anthony Spell, et al. v. John Bel Edwards, et al. |
Fifth Circuit |
2023-05-09 |
Denied |
Amici (4)Response Waived |
church-assembly church-state-separation establishment-clause first-amendment founders-intent free-exercise free-exercise-clause religious-freedom religious-liberty state-restrictions |
Whether the State's restrictions on church assembly and worship violate the Establishment and Free Exercise Clauses under the Founders' understanding |
| 22-954 |
Justin Marcus Zinman v. California |
California |
2023-03-30 |
Denied |
Response Waived |
civil-rights establishment-clause first-amendment free-speech homeland-defense political-ideology second-amendment state-secrets takings |
Whether allowing a Progressive political ideology to influence the law violates the Establishment clause of the First Amendment? |
| 22-292 |
James D. Sullivan v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue |
Fourth Circuit |
2022-09-27 |
Denied |
Response WaivedRelisted (2) |
establishment-clause free-exercise government-speech lemon-test public-forum religious-display |
Whether the lower court erred in its application of the Lemon test to the government's display of a religious monument |
| 22-278 |
City of Ocala, Florida v. Art Rojas, et al. |
Eleventh Circuit |
2022-09-23 |
Denied |
Relisted (6) |
article-iii civil-rights establishment-clause free-speech observer-standing psychic-injury religious-event religious-expression standing |
Is psychic or emotional offense allegedly caused by observation of religious messages an injury sufficient to confer standing under Article III of the… |
| 22-5408 |
Lady Donna Dutchess v. Jason Dutch |
Alaska |
2022-08-19 |
Denied |
IFP |
civil-rights establishment-clause first-amendment free-exercise lemon-test medical-scientology religious-freedom vaccine-mandate vaccine-mandates |
Is the court's faith in vaccine mandates an unconstitutional establishment of the religion of medical scientology? |
| 22-60 |
Church of Scientology International, et al. v. Chrissie Carnell Bixler, et al. |
California |
2022-07-21 |
Denied |
Amici (5)Response Waived |
arbitration-agreement church-membership civil-procedure establishment-clause first-amendment free-exercise freedom-of-religion religious-arbitration |
Does the First Amendment prohibit enforcement of a religious arbitration agreement if a parishioner leaves the faith? |
| 21-7912 |
Jack A. Courtney v. Motorists Mutual Insurance Company |
Ohio |
2022-05-18 |
Denied |
IFP |
establishment-clause first-amendment government-endorsement public-forum religious-display separation-of-church-and-state |
Whether the lower court erred in its interpretation and application of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment |
| 21-1295 |
St. Augustine School, et al. v. Jill Underly, in Her Official Capacity as Superintendent of Public Instruction, et al. |
Seventh Circuit |
2022-03-28 |
Denied |
|
constitutional-claims doctrinal-determination establishment-clause first-amendment free-exercise free-exercise-clause government-interference public-benefits religion-clauses religious-preference summary-reversal |
Whether summary reversal is warranted |
| 21-6019 |
James Paul Arlotta v. His Holiness Pope Francis, et al. |
Second Circuit |
2021-10-19 |
Dismissed |
IFP |
appearances-of-impropriety bankruptcy-court civil-rights conflicts-of-interest constitutional-questions court-jurisdiction due-process establishment-clause judicial-proceedings legal-review recusal |
Whether the court will adhere to the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment in light of the apparent conflicts of interest and impropriety involv… |
| 21-418 |
Joseph A. Kennedy v. Bremerton School District |
Ninth Circuit |
2021-09-16 |
Judgment Issued |
Amici (68)Relisted (2) |
constitutional-rights establishment-clause first-amendment free-exercise free-speech public-employment public-school religious-expression |
Whether public-school-employee-speech-is-government-speech |
| 21-5522 |
Meghan Kelly v. Donald J. Trump |
Delaware |
2021-08-30 |
Denied |
IFP |
civil-procedure establishment-clause executive-order free-exercise-of-religion government-religion mootness religious-freedom-restoration-act ripeness service-of-process standing substitution-of-parties |
Whether failure to serve the brief was fatal error |
| 21-191 |
Sergei Vinkov v. United States District Court for the Central District of California, et al. |
Ninth Circuit |
2021-08-11 |
Denied |
|
case-or-controversy civil-rights constitutional-claims declaratory-judgment diversity-jurisdiction establishment-clause first-amendment free-speech insurance-coverage standing subject-matter-jurisdiction |
Whether the District Court abused its discretion retaining jurisdiction over the Declaratory Judgment Act (28 USC § 2201(a)) in the insurance dispute |
| 21-164 |
Trustees of the New Life In Christ Church v. City of Fredericksburg, Virginia |
Virginia |
2021-08-04 |
Denied |
Amici (6)Relisted (10) |
church-autonomy church-state-separation civil-authority civil-rights establishment-clause first-amendment free-speech ministerial-exception ministerial-exemption property-tax religious-doctrine religious-freedom |
Whether civil authorities violate the First Amendment when they engage in their own interpretation of church doctrine to overrule a church's determina… |
| 20-1800 |
Harold Shurtleff, et al. v. City of Boston, Massachusetts, et al. |
First Circuit |
2021-06-24 |
Judgment Issued |
Amici (24) |
content-discrimination establishment-clause first-amendment flag-display free-speech government-speech public-forum religious-expression religious-viewpoint viewpoint-discrimination |
Whether the First Amendment prohibits the City of Boston from denying a private religious organization's request to briefly display its flag on a city… |
| 20-1794 |
Chaplaincy of Full Gospel Churches, et al. v. Department of the Navy, et al. |
District of Columbia |
2021-06-23 |
Denied |
Response Waived |
access-to-courts chaplain-selection civil-rights due-process equal-protection establishment-clause government-neutrality religious-discrimination standing |
Whether the Navy's grant of unbridled power to reject Non-denominational chaplains to serve as chaplain selection board members violated rulings in Gr… |
| 20-1405 |
Tarek Farag v. Ali Waqas |
Illinois |
2021-04-07 |
Denied |
|
civil-rights constitutional-challenge due-process equal-protection establishment-clause first-amendment free-speech injunctive-relief judicial-discretion legal-procedure religious-freedom religious-law |
Whether Sharia is contrary to our Constitution and laws? |
| 20-1346 |
Calvary Chapel of Bangor v. Janet T. Mills, Governor of Maine |
First Circuit |
2021-03-25 |
Denied |
Response RequestedResponse WaivedRelisted (2) |
employment-division-v-smith establishment-clause first-amendment free-exercise free-exercise-clause government-discrimination jacobson-v-massachusetts pandemic-restrictions preliminary-injunction religious-liberty strict-scrutiny temporary-restraining-order |
Whether the Free Exercise Clause prohibits government discrimination against houses of worship |
| 20-791 |
Eglise Baptiste Bethanie De Ft. Lauderdale, Inc., et al. v. Seminole Tribe of Florida, et al. |
Eleventh Circuit |
2020-12-09 |
Denied |
Response RequestedRelisted (2) |
access-act civil-remedies civil-rights establishment-clause first-amendment free-exercise-clause freedom-of-access-to-clinic-entrances-act off-reservation-conduct religious-worship tribal-sovereign-immunity |
Is a Native American tribe sovereignly immune from a civil suit for damages caused by the off-reservation violations by its police officers of the 'pl… |
| 20-590 |
Ryan Pankoe v. Laura Pankoe |
Pennsylvania |
2020-11-03 |
Denied |
|
divorce divorce-law establishment-clause no-fault-divorce pennsylvania-constitution public-policy subject-matter-jurisdiction viewpoint-based |
whether-section-3301(d)-of-the-pennsylvania-divorce-code-is-unconstitutional |
| 20-534 |
All Saints' Episcopal Church (Fort Worth) v. The Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth, et al. |
Texas |
2020-10-22 |
Denied |
Amici (1)Relisted (2) |
church-property-dispute church-property-disputes ecclesiastical-question establishment-clause express-trust-provision free-exercise free-exercise-clause jones-v-wolf neutral-principles neutral-principles-of-law |
Whether the Texas Supreme Court's decision awarding petitioner's sanctuary and rectory to a dissident faction in contravention of the will of petition… |
| 20-385 |
Judy Doe v. Michael L. Parson, Governor of Missouri, et al. |
Eighth Circuit |
2020-09-24 |
Denied |
Response Waived |
abortion abortion-rights constitutional-challenge due-process establishment-clause free-exercise free-exercise-clause religious-belief religious-liberty undue-burden undue-burden-standard |
Is the Establishment Clause violated by the proclamation that 'The life of each human being begins at conception. Abortion will terminate the life of … |
| 20-340 |
Olga Paule Perrier-Bilbo v. United States, et al. |
First Circuit |
2020-09-15 |
Denied |
Response Waived |
civil-rights equal-protection establishment-clause first-amendment free-exercise freedom-of-religion government-endorsement religious-discrimination standing |
Whether the federal government may continue to degrade atheists from the equal rank of citizens by repeatedly, flagrantly, and facially lending its po… |
| 19-8681 |
Sung Hong, et ux. v. United States |
Ninth Circuit |
2020-06-12 |
Denied |
Response WaivedIFP |
affinity-fraud aggravating-factors civil-rights constitutional-law due-process establishment-clause free-exercise holguin-hernandez-v-united-states plain-error-review religious-sentencing sentencing sentencing-guidelines |
whether-courts-can-consider-religion-as-aggravating-factor-in-sentencing |
| 19-758 |
Kamal Anwiya Youkhanna, et al. v. City of Sterling Heights, Michigan, et al. |
Sixth Circuit |
2019-12-13 |
Denied |
Response Waived |
civil-rights consent-decree establishment-clause first-amendment free-speech local-government municipal-law public-forum religion religious-freedom zoning zoning-law |
Does a city council rule prohibiting private citizens from making disparaging comments about religion when speaking during the public comment period o… |
| 19-348 |
St. James School v. Darryl Biel, as Personal Representative of the Estate of Kristen Biel |
Ninth Circuit |
2019-09-17 |
Judgment Issued |
Amici (4) |
civil-courts civil-rights due-process employment-discrimination establishment-clause first-amendment free-exercise free-speech hosanna-tabor ministerial-exception religion-clauses |
Whether the Religion Clauses prevent civil courts from adjudicating employment discrimination claims brought by an employee against her religious empl… |
| 18-9832 |
Patrick H. Murphy v. Bryan Collier, Executive Director, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, et al. |
Fifth Circuit |
2019-06-27 |
Denied |
Amici (1)IFP |
civil-rights death-penalty death-row due-process establishment-clause free-exercise free-exercise-clause pastoral-accompaniment religious-liberty rluipa |
When a death-sentenced inmate informs prison authorities a month in advance of his scheduled execution date of his desire to be accompanied during the… |
| 18-1455 |
Archdiocese of Washington v. Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, et al. |
District of Columbia |
2019-05-22 |
Denied |
Amici (3)Relisted (5) |
civil-rights content-discrimination establishment-clause first-amendment free-speech government-speech public-forum religious-freedom viewpoint-discrimination |
Whether WMATA's policy of refusing to accept advertisements that promote or oppose religion or reflect a religious perspective violates the First Amen… |
| 18-1438 |
Caleigh Wood v. Evelyn Arnold, et al. |
Fourth Circuit |
2019-05-16 |
Denied |
Response RequestedResponse WaivedRelisted (3) |
1st-amendment compelled-speech curriculum establishment-clause First-Amendment free-speech Lemon-Test lemon-v-kurtzman preferential-treatment public-school Public-School-Curriculum public-schools religion Religious-Freedom religious-practices |
Whether public schools may require students to assert religious beliefs and recite prayers that offend their religious convictions |
| 18-1322 |
The Alliance to End Chickens as Kaporos, et al. v. New York City Police Department, et al. |
New York |
2019-04-18 |
Denied |
Response Waived |
animal-cruelty establishment-clause executive-branch free-exercise judicial-branch legislative-branch mandamus separation-of-powers standing writ-of-mandamus |
Can the New York State Judicial Branch refuse to issue a writ of mandamus when the executive branch defies the legislative branch? |
| 18-1297 |
New Doe Child #1, et al. v. United States, et al. |
Eighth Circuit |
2019-04-12 |
Denied |
Response Waived |
atheism currency-inscription due-process equal-protection establishment-clause monotheism political-disenfranchisement religious-freedom religious-freedom-restoration-act |
Whether Congress violates the Establishment Clause when it makes laws respecting an establishment of Monotheism, thus perpetuating and exacerbating th… |
| 18-8764 |
Tatyana Evgenievna Drevaleva v. Department of Veterans Affairs, et al. |
Ninth Circuit |
2019-04-09 |
Denied |
Response WaivedIFP |
administrative-hearing calfresh-benefits civil-procedure civil-rights compelled-speech county-notice establishment-clause first-amendment food-stamps free-speech hearing-rights notice public-assistance state-hearing utility-allowance wedding-services welfare-assistance |
Whether the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment prohibits the government from requiring a private business to create custom wedding invitation… |
| 18-8669 |
James Paul Arlotta v. David Anthony Heraty, et al. |
Second Circuit |
2019-04-02 |
Denied |
IFP |
civil-procedure civil-rights civil-rights,due-process,standing,civil-procedure, due-process establishment-clause excessive-entanglement first-amendment in-forma-pauperis section-1983-violation standing |
Why did the U.S. C.A. 2d Cir. cite the S. Ct. Case Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. (1989); when the . petitioner's in forma pauperis motion was approved… |
| 18-8637 |
James Paul Arlotta v. Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority, et al. |
Second Circuit |
2019-03-29 |
Denied |
IFP |
civil-procedure civil-rights civil-rights-act due-process establishment-clause fair-hearing reverse-discrimination standing title-vi transportation-discrimination transportation-services |
Whether the constitutionality of an Act of Congress was properly drawn into question |
| 18-8615 |
In Re Patrick Henry Murphy |
|
2019-03-28 |
Denied |
IFP |
capital-punishment civil-rights due-process equal-protection establishment-clause execution-protocol first-amendment free-exercise religious-accommodation religious-freedom state-procedure |
Whether the Constitution or federal statutory law requires that members of all faiths be permitted to be accompanied in the execution chamber by a min… |
| 18-1195 |
Kendra Espinoza, et al. v. Montana Department of Revenue, et al. |
Montana |
2019-03-14 |
Judgment Issued |
Amici (64)Relisted (2) |
constitutional-law equal-protection establishment-clause first-amendment free-exercise religion-clauses religious-schools school-choice student-aid |
Invalidation of a religiously neutral student-aid program due to inclusion of religious schools |
| 18-7946 |
Robert Hawkins v. United States |
Seventh Circuit |
2019-02-13 |
Denied |
Response WaivedIFP |
civil-procedure civil-rights due-process establishment-clause first-amendment free-exercise free-speech separation-of-church-and-state standing takings |
Whether the lower court erred in its application of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution |
| 18-7515 |
Jafaria Deforrest Newton v. Illinois |
Illinois |
2019-01-24 |
Denied |
Response WaivedIFP |
burden-of-proof criminal-law criminal-penalty due-process equal-protection establishment-clause first-amendment presumption religious-worship statutory-presumption |
Whether the presumption in § 407(b)(2) comports with the Due Process Clause as to the State's burden of proof |
| 18-921 |
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Juan, Puerto Rico v. Yali Acevedo Feliciano, et al. |
Puerto Rico |
2019-01-16 |
GVR |
CVSGAmici (5)Relisted (16) |
church-autonomy church-hierarchy church-structure civil-courts civil-rights ecclesiastical-rights ecclesiastical-structure establishment-clause first-amendment free-speech religious-organization |
Whether the First Amendment empowers courts to override the chosen legal structure of a religious organization and declare all of its constituent part… |
| 18-636 |
The Pure Presbyterian Church of Washington, et al. v. The Grace of God Presbyterian Church |
Virginia |
2018-11-16 |
Dismissed |
|
church-property civil-procedure constitutional-competence ecclesiastical-abstention establishment-clause first-amendment free-exercise merger-analysis neutral-principles religious-freedom religious-organizations subject-matter-jurisdiction |
Whether the trial court's determination that Grace Presbyterian was the successor church to Pure Presbyterian, which was held to have been extinguishe… |
| 18-6606 |
Anthony James Merrick v. Charles L. Ryan, Director, Arizona Department of Corrections, et al. |
Ninth Circuit |
2018-11-07 |
Denied |
Response WaivedIFP |
civil-rights due-process establishment-clause free-speech religious-freedom standing |
Does the lack of a workable test for determination of religious sincerity create arbitrary decisions based on bias that effectively violate the Establ… |
| 18-530 |
Congregation Jeshuat Israel v. Congregation Shearith Israel |
First Circuit |
2018-10-24 |
Denied |
Amici (2)Response RequestedResponse WaivedRelisted (2) |
charitable-trusts diversity-jurisdiction erie-doctrine establishment-clause evidence federalism free-exercise free-exercise-clause personal-property property property-dispute religious-liberty secular-evidence trust trust-law |
In ordinary trust and property disputes, does the Establishment Clause preclude courts from considering secular evidence that is relevant and admissib… |
| 18-364 |
Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders, et al. v. Freedom From Religion Foundation, et al. |
New Jersey |
2018-09-20 |
Denied |
Amici (2)Relisted (6) |
civil-rights establishment-clause first-amendment free-exercise free-exercise-clause free-speech government-funding historic-preservation public-funding religious-status status-based-discrimination trinity-lutheran trinity-lutheran-precedent |
Whether using generally available historic preservation funds to repair or restore a house of worship constitutes a religious use' that falls outside … |
| 18-365 |
The Presbyterian Church in Morristown, et al. v. Freedom From Religion Foundation, et al. |
New Jersey |
2018-09-20 |
Denied |
Relisted (6) |
church-state-separation constitutional-rights establishment-clause free-exercise free-exercise-clause free-speech government-funding government-grants historic-preservation religious-discrimination religious-neutrality standing status-use-distinction |
Does the categorical exclusion of active houses of worship from a competitive government grant program advancing the secular interest of historic pres… |
| 18-351 |
City of Pensacola, Florida, et al. v. Amanda Kondrat'yev, et al. |
Eleventh Circuit |
2018-09-18 |
GVR |
Amici (5)Relisted (3) |
constitutional-law endorsement establishment-clause first-amendment historical-pedigree lemon-test passive-display passive-religious-display religious-display standing town-of-greece |
Whether plaintiffs have standing to sue under the Establishment Clause when their only alleged injury consists of the feelings of offense' produced by… |
| 18-18 |
Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission v. American Humanist Association, et al. |
Fourth Circuit |
2018-07-03 |
Judgment Issued |
Amici (5)Relisted (5) |
civil-rights constitutional-interpretation establishment-clause first-amendment free-speech government-speech monument public-display reasonable-observer religious-symbol standing war-memorial |
Whether the Establishment Clause requires the removal or destruction of a 93-year-old memorial to American servicemen who died in World War I solely b… |
| 18-12 |
Joseph A. Kennedy v. Bremerton School District |
Ninth Circuit |
2018-07-02 |
Denied |
Amici (7)Relisted (12) |
coaches constitutional-rights employment-rights establishment-clause first-amendment free-speech public-employment public-forum public-school religious-expression school-speech teachers tinker-v-des-moines |
Whether public school teachers and coaches retain any First Amendment rights when at work and in the general presence of' students |