from Mia Gradik of the First Liberty Institute
First Liberty recently asked the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case of our clients, Christian bakers Aaron and Melissa Klein.
We’re asking the Court to reverse a state court decision that effectively forced the Kleins to shut down their Oregon bakery, Sweet Cakes by Melissa. They declined to create a custom cake for a same-sex wedding because doing so would force them to convey a message that conflicts with their religious beliefs. An Oregon state agency ruled the Kleins violated a public accommodations law and imposed a devastating penalty of $135,000.
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We argue that the Constitution protects the Kleins and all Americans from being forced to express a message with which they disagree. Our petition to the Court states that “forcing artists to design, create, and decorate custom products against their strongest beliefs abridges the freedom protected by the Free Speech Clause” of the First Amendment.
As the Supreme Court deliberates whether to hear their case, Americans are coming together to support the Kleins. We’re happy to announce that 14 friend-of-the-court (amicus) briefs have been filed at the nation’s highest court supporting their case. This includes briefs from a broad coalition of organizations and leaders such as:
- 14 Members of Congress
- 17 State Attorneys General
- The Manhattan Institute
- The Institute for Faith and Family
- Liberty Justice Center
- Advancing American Freedom
- National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation
- Christian Legal Society
- Jewish Coalition for Religious Liberty
- The Coalition for Jewish Values
- The Alabama Center for Law and Liberty
- The Mountain States Legal Foundation
- America’s Future Inc
- U.S. Constitutional Rights Legal Defense Fund
This diverse showing of support for the Kleins highlights just how vital this case is for religious liberty in America.
Read the full article in First Liberty Institute