Justices turn away cases involving religious rights in the workplace.
On Monday, the Supreme Court declined to hear appeals of two cases with claims of illegal workplace religious bias. A Jehovah’s Witness from Tennessee and a Seventh-day Adventist from Florida both had cases where the lower courts found the accommodations sought by the appellants would have placed too much hardship on their employers.
At issue in the cases was the allowances companies must make for employees for religious reasons to comply with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits employment discrimination based on religion as well as race, color, sex, and national origin.
Although the Court has taken an expansive view of religious liberties in a number of other important cases in recent years, in rejecting these appeals, the Court sidestepped a chance to further expand religious rights.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For wisdom for the Supreme Court justices as they decide what appeals to hear.
- For U.S. District Court judges who hear cases on civil liberties to issue opinions with discernment.
- For the judicial system to uphold the First Amendment.
Sources: Reuters, Law360
