Written by Don Byrd
Just months after a unanimous decision affirming the ministerial exception to employment discrimination laws, the United States Supreme Court passed on the chance to hear another case on the topic later this year. In today’s Order List, the Court denied cert in the case of Mary Linklater v. Prince of Peace Lutheran Church. Ms. Linklater, a Music Minister argues she was dismissed from her church for retaliation after she complained about sexual harassment from her Pastor.
Maryland’s Court of Appeals threw out her claim on the ground that for a ministerial position, the church was free to make personnel decisions without judicial oversight.
The Supreme Court’s denial leaves that ruling in place.
