by Jorge Gomez • 6 minutes
2025 could be another landmark year for religious freedom at the U.S. Supreme Court. With a Supreme Court appeal that we filed this week, we now have four cases pending at the nation’s highest court. Each one presents a tremendous opportunity to set a precedent that would protect religious freedom for millions of Americans.
1. Fire Chief Ron Hittle: Faith Under Fire
Fire Chief Ron 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. It’s rare that an employer will admit that you’re being fired for your faith, but that’s just what Stockton’s leaders did to Chief Hittle.
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.
What happened to Chief Hittle was wrong—and illegal. Federal law protects against religious discrimination and harassment in the workplace. An employer cannot fire or take adverse action against employees based on their religion.
This case isn’t just about one firefighter, however. This case impacts the rights of every person in the workplace. A win for Chief Hittle would be a win for employees across America.
LATEST UPDATE: Please pray for the justices as they deliberate on Chief Hittle’s case. It only takes four justices for the Court to agree to hear a case. They may discuss the case in conference over the next two weeks, and we could hear a response soon.
2. Bethesda University: Protecting Churches’ Independence
First Liberty and volunteer attorneys at Greenberg Traurig asked the Supreme Court to hear our case involving a Pentecostal college based in Anaheim, California. It deals with the important issue of church autonomy and the right of religious institutions to choose who will lead.
Bethesda University was deceived into thinking it must appoint board members who do not share its religious beliefs to lead the institution. California courts ultimately got involved in interpreting religious doctrine and determining who should sit on the board. The courts intruded into the leadership and doctrinal direction of a religious institution, which is unconstitutional.
Bethesda University’s religious identity is at stake. Houses of worship and faith-based organizations—not judges—are the ones to decide how to fulfill their religious missions and by whom. Church autonomy is foundational and the outcome could impact every church, synagogue and faith-based organization.
LATEST UPDATE: We filed our final brief on Monday, which further explains why the Court should take the case. We also received a tremendous outpouring of support. A diverse coalition of national groups have submitted 10 friend-of-the-court briefs urging the Court to hear the case. This broad support highlights just how vital this case is for religious liberty
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 a parental rights case that centers on a key legal principle.
A court told our client, Blake Warner, that he must have an attorney in order to represent his child in court. We’re asking the Supreme Court to review the lower court decision. We argue that this 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 a lawyer.
This case has implications for every family in the country. At a time when parents are being targeted for exercising their constitutional rights and raising their children consistent with their faith, parents are often left with no choice but to go to court to seek relief.
As part of our mission to protect religious freedom, 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. The First Amendment undeniably protects that right. Parents should have the power to decide whether a lawyer will represent their child, or whether they will take on that responsibility. By protecting parental rights, we can protect religious liberty.
LATEST UPDATE: The case is listed on the Supreme Court’s docket. The Court will be receiving friend-of-court briefs over the coming weeks. We should know how many were filed sometime in early February.
4. Texas Charities: City Must Stop Criminalizing Compassion
First Liberty is assisting the law firm Copilevitz, Lam & Raney in a case involving two charitable organizations in North Texas. These two nonprofits are being subject to a discriminatory city ordinance that prevents them from carrying out their mission and serving their community.
This week, Copilevitz, Lam & Raney filed a petition asking the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse a lower court decision that prohibited Arms of Hope and National Federation of the Blind of Texas (NFBTX) from placing donation bins in well-trafficked areas across the city of Arlington.
Arms of Hope, a Christian organization, has worked to provide a safe, nurturing environment for disadvantaged children, youth and families for over 90 years. They aim to transform the lives of many single-mother families by providing support in their time of need. The National Federation of the Blind of Texas (NFBTX) seeks to create equal opportunity and provide resources so that all blind individuals can achieve their goals.
Because they don’t receive government funding, the two organizations rely on the generous giving of churches, organizations, businesses and individuals for financial support.
They often receive this support through clothing donations. In parking lots of churches or local shopping centers, there are designated, free-standing donation bins for people to drop off their donation items. Both Arms of Hope and NFBTX rely on these donations to support people in need.
The city has never regulated donation boxes in the past. But this year, the City of Arlington passed a discriminatory ordinance stating that these organizations must have permits to place donation bins around the city.
The city is abusing its zoning code to restrict Arms of Hope and NFBTX from placing donation bins anywhere except industrial areas. This means they can’t be placed where people will see them—familiar areas like churches, store parking lots, etc.
What the City of Arlington is doing violates the First Amendment. Similar to what’s happening in cities across America, it is criminalizing compassion. Winning this case would set a very important precedent for the future. The outcome could impact faith-based nonprofits and all charitable organizations in the country.
LATEST UPDATE: The Court will be receiving friend-of-court briefs over the coming weeks. We should know how many amicus briefs were filed sometime by mid-February.
The stakes for our First Freedom are higher than ever. Decisions in each of these will affect houses of worship, employees, ministries, families and everyday Americans—including YOU.
The battle for our First Freedom is far from over. We need your continued support and prayers. God is opening new doors and giving us opportunities to impact the future of our country. Can we count on your continued support in 2025 to keep winning big for religious freedom?
Please donate to First Liberty today.
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