SCOTUSblog
Amy Howe Reporter and Independent Contractor
Posted Mon, March 6th, 2017 12:03 pm
The justices once again did not act on Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, a challenge by Jack Phillips, a Colorado man who describes himself as a “cake artist” and owns a custom-cake business with his wife. Phillips and the business argue that the state’s public accommodations law violates the First Amendment when it requires him to express himself in a way that violates his sincerely held religious beliefs – here, by making custom wedding cakes to celebrate same-sex weddings. Nearly three years ago, the justices declined to review a similar decision by the New Mexico Supreme Court holding that a photography studio violated the state’s anti-discrimination laws when it refused to photograph a same-sex commitment ceremony. The owners of the studio argued that taking photographs of such ceremonies would violate their religious beliefs.
Justices send transgender bathroom case back to lower courts.
The justices did not add any new cases to their docket for next term. They issued an unsigned opinion in the case of a Nevada death-row inmate who alleged that the judge in his state trial was biased; the case now goes back to the state courts for new proceedings. And two justices issued public statements regarding the court’s denial of review in three cases: Justice Clarence Thomas wrote a separate opinion regarding the court’s announcement that it would not review a Texas civil forfeiture case, and he dissented from the denial of review in a challenge to the scope of Congress’ authority to regulate foreign commerce; Justice Sonia Sotomayor concurred in the denial of review in a Florida man’s challenge to his conviction for threatening to “blow up this whole [expletive] world.” Finally, the justices asked the federal government to file a brief conveying its views on Loomis v. Wisconsin, a due process challenge to the use of risk-assessment results at sentencing.
http://www.scotusblog.com/2017/03/justices-send-transgender-bathroom-case-back-lower-courts/
