Press Statement
For Immediate Release: 3.31.26
Contact: John Manning, media@firstliberty.org
Direct: 972-941-4453
U.S. Supreme Court Protects Religious Counseling Rights
Court found a Colorado state law that interferes with counselor-patient
relationship unconstitutional.
Washington, DC—The Supreme Court of the United States today decided 8-1 in Chiles v. Salazar, that a Colorado law banning licensed counselors discussing certain types of counseling with minors is unconstitutional. The ban barred professional counselors like Petitioner Kay Chiles from engaging in religiously-based talk therapy with her clients if she does not provide the “gender affirming” perspective the state requires.
“Americans should never have their professional speech censored simply because the government disfavors that speech,” said Kelly Shackelford, President, CEO, and Chief Counsel for First Liberty Institute. “In this case, the Supreme Court sent a clear message to state governments that the Constitution actually means what it says when it protects the free speech of its citizens. This is a great victory for religious liberty.”
First Liberty Institute filed a friend-of-the-court brief on behalf of Heartbeat International, a nonprofit, interdenominational Christian organization whose mission is to support the pro-life cause through an effective network of affiliated pregnancy resource centers.
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About First Liberty Institute
First Liberty Institute is the largest legal organization in the nation dedicated exclusively to defending religious freedom for all Americans.
To arrange an interview, contact John Manning at media@firstliberty.org or by calling 972-941-4453.
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