by Jorge Gomez • 6 minutes
It’s a busy season at First Liberty!
We have a multitude of cases working their way through the courts right now, including several that are pending at the U.S. Supreme Court. It’s possible we’ll hear a response from the nation’s highest court very soon. In fact, the Justices deliberated on two of our cases this week.
Please continue to pray for our clients, the judges and justices, as well as First Liberty’s legal team. The outcomes could set precedents that impact millions of Americans. These legal battles can restore and protect religious freedom for houses of worship, employees, ministries, families and everyday Americans—including YOU.
Watch this update from First Liberty President, CEO and Chief Counsel Kelly Shackelford, as he breaks down several major cases we’re fighting right now:
1. Fire Chief Ron Hittle: Faith Under Fire
The U.S. Supreme Court conferenced on Friday February 28 to consider whether to take up Fire Chief Ron Hittle’s case. Remember, it only takes four justices for the Court to agree to hear a case.
Chief Hittle’s case appears to be receiving attention at the highest court. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a different employment discrimination case. Justice Neil Gorsuch asked a series of questions about whether the Supreme Court should reconsider the legal framework that lower courts have been using in employment discrimination cases. The attorneys arguing the case recognized that the Supreme Court may have the opportunity to address these questions in Fire Chief Hittle’s case.
Chief Hittle was a dedicated first responder for almost 25 years. When he attended a world-class leadership conference with a few team members, the city of Stockton, California fired him. Why? Because the conference was held at a church.
First Liberty and volunteer attorneys at the law firm Baker Botts asked the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case and to make it clear that cities can’t fire employees because of their religious beliefs or practices.
This case isn’t just about one firefighter, however. It has implications for the rights of every person in the workplace. A win for Chief Hittle would be a win for employees nationwide.
2. Texas Charities: City Must Stop Criminalizing Compassion
The Supreme Court also conferenced on Friday, February 28 to consider a case involving two charitable organizations in North Texas. First Liberty is assisting the law firm Copilevitz, Lam & Raney in this case.
Two nonprofits—Arms of Hope and The National Federation of the Blind of Texas—are being subjected to a discriminatory city ordinance that prevents them from carrying out their mission and serving their community.
The City of Arlington is abusing its code to regulate where these two charities place their donation boxes. This means they can’t be placed where people will see them—familiar areas such as churches and store parking lots.
The outcome of this case could set an important precedent that protects faith-based nonprofits and all charitable organizations.
3. Blake Warner: Protecting Parental Rights and Religious Freedom
First Liberty—alongside volunteer attorneys at Baker Botts—asked the U.S. Supreme Court to hear an important case that impacts parents’ constitutional right to raise their children as they see fit.
We recently received a tremendous outpouring of support. A diverse coalition of national groups submitted eight friend-of-the-court briefs urging the Court to hear the case. This highlights just how vital this case is for parental rights.
The case involves our client Blake Warner, a Florida father who was told by a court that he must have an attorney in order to legally represent his child. We’re asking the Court to review a lower court decision, arguing that forcing Blake to get a lawyer infringes on multiple fundamental rights: a parent’s right to make critical decisions for his child, and a child’s rights to access the courts and do so without an attorney.
First Liberty supports the right of parents to make decisions about what’s best for their children and to raise them consistent with their religious beliefs. Protecting parental rights is central to protecting religious liberty. This case has implications for every family in the country. It presents an opportunity to ensure the relationship between parents and children receives the legal protection it deserves.
4. Pastor Chris Avell and Dad’s Place Church
Please pray for Pastor Chris Avell and Dad’s Place Church in Bryan, Ohio.
Our legal team has secured several legal victories over the past couple of months. We’ve managed to ensure that Pastor Chris doesn’t have to worry about going to jail, at least for the time being. And the church can also keep its doors and ministry open 24/7 to serve anyone who needs help while the case proceeds.
As we’ve mentioned before, this fight is far from over. Our wins were important and positive, but they’re temporary. What makes this legal battle especially tough is that it involves three separate cases in different courts.
First, there’s a state criminal court case. Pastor Chris was convicted—which means he could still face jail time depending on the outcome of his appeal.
We’re also fighting a civil case in state appellate court and another in federal district court. We have some crucial deadlines and legal filings coming up in March in both the state and federal cases. The outcomes could finally put an end to the city’s unlawful harassment of Pastor Chris and the church.
5. Faithful Carrier Gerald Groff
We’re in the thick of preparing for trial in our Faithful Carrier case involving Gerald Groff. He recently received a positive update when a federal district court ruled against the U.S. Postal Service and ordered a trial, which could help deliver a full and complete victory for Gerald.
Our attorneys will participate in a final pretrial conference in early March. The trial is expected to take place sometime in the next several weeks. We’ll notify you when we have more details.
First Liberty secured a landmark victory for Gerald at the U.S. Supreme Court in 2023, which set a major precedent strengthening protections for religious Americans at work. But despite losing at the nation’s highest court, the postal service keeps trying to evade responsibility for discriminating against Gerald and forcing him to choose between his faith and his job.
Please keep Gerald in your prayers. He needs your spiritual support as we approach this crucial court date. If you’ve closely followed this case, you know this has been a difficult battle. After fighting in court for years, the upcoming trial is an opportunity to bring Gerald’s case to a close.
6. Shields of Strength
First Liberty has been defending Kenny Vaughan and his business, Shields of Strength, in federal court for years. Shields of Strength is a faith-based company that graciously provides replica military dog tags with inspirational Bible verses to active-duty service members, veterans and their families.
After an anti-religious group filed a complaint against the company, the Department of Defense imposed an illegal prohibition on Shields producing and distributing its dog tags containing biblical Scripture and military insignia. Production was wrongfully halted more than five years ago.
There’s tremendous hope for this case and victory is within sight. The recently signed Executive Order: Restoring Freedom and Ending Federal Censorship was a huge step forward. This change in the government’s position on censorship and religious expression is great news for our clients. We’re also closer than ever to proving that the DoD’s discriminatory actions are illegal.
Please pray for First Liberty’s legal team. There are some very important legal proceedings happening in March that could decide if we win this case.
7. Woolard, Gonzales and Dodson Families in California
Pray for the Woolard, Gonzales and Dodson families we’re representing in California.
All three families educate their children with the help of public charter schools. But the state won’t let them use state funds to purchase curriculum, materials, or classes that are religious or that even mention religion. That violates what the Supreme Court ruled in our Treat Children Fairly case, Carson v. Makin.
This case is pending in federal appeals court, and we have a big deadline coming up in March. There’s also a possibility that we could argue the case sometime this year.
The Woolard, Gonzales and Dodson families need your continued support. They’ve been battling in court for years and can’t do this alone. We’re asking you to join us—and them—in this legal battle.
These families are just like yours. Just like mine. They simply want what’s best for their kids. But the state keeps getting in their way and mistreating them.
Winning this case wouldn’t just be a victory for three families in California. It would be a WIN FOR YOU. For your family and millions of families and religious schools across America.
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