Law Professor Ponders Hobby Lobby Case from Corporate Law Perspective

Written By Don Byrd
The US Supreme Court hearing in the contraception mandate cases is coming up later this month. Writing in the Boston Globe, Boston College law professor Kent Greenfield offers views from the perspective of corporate law, as he considers the ramifications should the court hold that corporations are people for the purposes of RFRA protection in a case like this.

Mississippi Religious Freedom Bill Faces Decision in House Committee Today

Written by Don Byrd
The Mississippi State House is considering a state Religious Freedom Restoration Act bill, recently passed by the Senate. Like most RFRA legislation, this bill would prohibit the government from substantially burdening a person’s religious exercise unless it is necessary to achieve a compelling government interest. Unlike many other RFRA laws, Mississippi’s would trigger this high threshold for *any burden* on religious exercise, regardless of whether it is substantial.

U.S. Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Religious Challenge to Prison Grooming Standards

Written by Don Byrd
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to weigh in on the question of whether prison grooming policies of the Arkansas Department of Corrections, requiring inmates to shave, violate the religious freedom rights under the First Amendment or the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) of prisoners whose religion forbids it. RLUIPA prohibits the state from substantially burdening an inmates’s religious exercise unless the burden is necessary to achieve a compelling government interest.

What Does AZ Bill, Brewer’s Veto Say About the State of Religious Liberty in the U.S. Today?

Written by Don Byrd
Lots of pundits, reporters, and experts are weighing in today on the aftermath of Governor Brewer’s decision to veto controversial amendments to the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. The changes were designed to bolster businesses and individuals’ right to refuse service when in conflict with religious beliefs. Over the course of the last couple of weeks, the idea – which many states are considering in some form – has gained national attention.

Here are some clips from today’s perspective pieces around the web…

Virginia House Sends Student Religious Exercise Bill to Governor

Written by Don Byrd
The Virginia House of Delegates yesterday passed a bill requiring school districts to grant broad religious free exercise rights for students. Many of these rights – like those allowing students to voluntarily pray on school grounds – are already protected by the First Amendment. Other provisions of the bill – like those allowing students to pray at the microphone when speaking at school sponsored events – may run afoul of the First Amendment’s religious liberty guarantees.