by Jorge Gomez • 2 minutes
On Wednesday, First Liberty argued at the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of Mississippi evangelist Gabe Olivier.
Led by our volunteer attorney Allyson Ho of the law firm Gibson Dunn, we made the case to the justices that Americans should be able to plead their case in court if their constitutional rights—including religious freedom—are violated.
“We’re grateful the Court heard argument today in Mr. Olivier’s case,” Ho said following the argument. “His courage in standing up for the free speech rights of all Americans is an inspiration.”
“I am grateful to have had my case heard by the U.S. Supreme Court—an opportunity few others in my situation have ever had,” Gabe said. “I pray this case results in a decision that allows others to be able to fight for their First Amendment rights in court.”
The stakes are incredibly high in this case. The outcome will impact the right of every person to have access to our court system for constitutional violations. It also affects religious liberty and the right of every person to talk about their religious beliefs with other people in public, whether it’s in a park or on a sidewalk.
“It is completely unacceptable that Gabe had his religious liberty rights extinguished by a city ordinance, but it is unconscionable that he was prevented from even having his day in court by a misapplied precedent,” said First Liberty President & CEO Kelly Shackelford. “Court decisions that prevent Americans from bringing lawsuits against laws that violate their rights endanger all of our civil rights.”
In case you missed it, watch this special First Liberty Live! episode with our attorneys just moments before going into the courtroom. You can also listen to the full audio of the argument.
A local ordinance banned Gabe from sharing his faith in a public park. He filed a lawsuit claiming his constitutional rights were violated. But the case was dismissed under a confusing legal precedent. It stopped Gabe from having the opportunity to have his day in court.
Gabe’s case could overturn decades of bad precedent in the lower courts. A clarifying opinion from the Supreme Court will bolster the rights and religious freedom of millions—ensuring every American has strong legal protections to share their faith and beliefs in the public square.
Please continue praying for Gabe, our legal team and the Supreme Court justices while we wait for a decision. Winning this case will advance the civil rights of all Americans.
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