Cases & Controversies
The Religious Liberty Observatory is being developed by the Liberty Institute as a comprehensive resource for an examination of the spectrum of issues related to religious liberty. Links to all United States Supreme Court benchmark case law related to religious liberty will be catalogued, to be accompanied by summaries of relevant sections of those cases. In addition, the Observatory will examine statutory and regulatory benchmarks and ongoing developments, news articles, and opinions of note.
Other Observatory Resources (headings hyperlinked to contents below):
- What is RFRA and Why Does it Matter?
- Federal Religious Liberty Law & Resources
- State Religious Liberty Law & Resources
- Defenders of Religious Liberty
What is RFRA and Why Does it Matter?
- What is RFRA and Why Does it Matter? (Liberty4Life)
Federal Religious Liberty Law & Resources
- The Constitution of the United States
- The Bill of Rights (including the First Amendment on religious liberty)
- Constitutional Amendments
- Declaration of Independence
- Religious Freedom Restoration Act RFRA (Liberty4Life .pdf)
- Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act RLUIPA
- RLUIPA statutory text (Liberty4Life .pdf)
- Statement and Q&A, Land Use Provisions of RLUIPA, U.S. Dep’t of Justice (w legal citations)
- RLUIPA Legislative History
- Guidance to State, County and Municipal Officials Regarding RLUIPA, U.S. Dep’t of Justice
- Memorandum on Federal Law Protections for Religious Liberty, U.S. Attorney General (2017)
- Justice Manual on Respect for Religious Liberty sec. 1-15.000 – 1-15.300, U.S. Dep’t of Justice
- Guide To Federal Religious Land Use Protections, U.S. Dep’t of Justice, Civil Rights Division
- RLUIPA text (Liberty4Life .pdf)
-
Executive Order No 13798 Promoting Free Speech and Religious Liberty (May 4, 2017)
State Religious Liberty Law & Resources
Alabama
- Alabama Constitution, Article 1, Section 3.01, The Alabama Religious Freedom Amendment
Arizona
- Arizona Free Exercise of Religion Act (Liberty4Life .pdf)
– Online Statutes
- Arizona Revised Statutes
- 14-1493: Definitions
- 14-1493.01: Free Exercise of Religion Protected
- 14-1493.02: Applicability
- 14-1493.03:Free Exercise and Land Use Regulations
- 14-1493.04:Free Exercise and licenses/registrations/appointments
Arkansas
- Arkansas Code Annotated sec. 16-123-401 through 16-123-407 (Liberty4Life.pdf)
– Online Statutes
- Arkansas Code Annotated sec. 16-123-401 through 16-123-407
- 16-123-401: Title
- 16-123-402: Legislative Intent
- 16-123-403: Definitions
- 16-123-404: Free Exercise of Religion Protected
- 16-123-405: Construction and Applicability
- 16-123-406: Interpretation
- 16-123-407: Exemptions
Connecticut
- Connecticut Act Concerning Religious Freedom (Liberty4Life .pdf)
– Online Statutes
Florida
- Florida Religious Freedom Restoration Act (Liberty4Life .pdf)
– Online Statutes
Idaho
- Idaho Religious Freedom Restoration Act (Liberty4Life .pdf)
– Online Statutes
Idaho Statutes Sections 73-401 through 73-404: 73-401; 73-402; 73-403; 73-404.
Illinois
- Illinois Religious Freedom Restoration Act (Liberty4Life .pdf)
– Online Statutes
Indiana
- Religious Freedom Restoration Act (Liberty4Life .pdf)
– Online Statutes
Kansas
- Kansas Preservation of Religious Freedom Act (Liberty4Life .pdf)
– Online Statutes
- Kansas K.S.A. 2016 Supp. 60-5301 through 60-5305
- 60-5301: Title
- 60-5302: Definitions
- 60-5303: Exercise of Religion /Burden of proof/Remedies
- 60-5304: Exercise of Religion/Compelling Government Interest
- 60:5305: Construction of Act
- 60-5311: Student Organizations/Definitions
- 60-5312: Post Secondary Educational Institution
- 60-5313: Student and Student Organization Cause of Action
Kentucky
- Kentucky Free Exercise of Religion Act (Liberty4Life .pdf)
– Online Statutes
Louisiana
- Louisiana Preservation of Religious Freedom Act (Liberty4Life .pdf)
– Online Statutes
- Louisiana Revised Statutes sec 13:5231, et. seq.
Maine
- Constitution, State of Maine
- Constitution, State of Maine, excerpt with citations
Mississippi
- Mississippi Religious Freedom Restoration Act (Liberty4Life .pdf)
– Online Statutes
Missouri
Missouri Religious Freedom Restoration Act (Liberty4Life .pdf)
– Online Statutes
- Missouri Revised Statutes Sections 1.302 et seq.
New Mexico
- New Mexico Religious Freedom Restoration Act (Liberty4Life .pdf)
– Online Statutes
Oklahoma
- Oklahoma Religious Freedom Act (Liberty4Life .pdf)
– Online Statutes
- Oklahoma Religious Freedom Act (ORFA), 51 O.S.2011, §§ 251-258
- 51 O.S sec. 251: Title
- 51 O.S sec. 252: Definitions
- 51 O.S. sec. 253: Government Burden on Religious Freedom
- 51 O.S. sec. 254: Correctional Facilities
- 51 O.S. sec. 255: No Authorization to Burden Religion; No Same Sex Unions; Government Funding
- 51 O.S. sec. 256: Damages
- 51 O.S. sec. 257: Frivolous or Fraudulent Claims
- 51 O.S. sec. 258: Governmental Authority
Pennsylvania
- Religious Freedom Protection Act (Liberty4Life .pdf)
– Online Statutes
Rhode Island
- Religious Freedom Restoration Act (Liberty4Life .pdf)
– Online Statutes
South Carolina
– Online Statutes
Tennessee
- Preservation of Religious Freedom (Liberty4Life .pdf)
– Online Statutes
Texas
- Free Exercise of Religion Act (Liberty4Life .pdf)
– Online Statutes
Virginia
- Virginia Religious Freedom Act (Liberty4Life .pdf)
– Online Statutes
International
- Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 18
Liberty Institute for Faith & Ethics 