![]() ![]() We live in a country where freedom of speech and religious freedom are protected. “Cultural winds may shift, but freedom of speech is foundational to our self-government and to the free and fearless pursuit of truth.” Elenis, and the Court there should reject Colorado’s attempt to mandate orthodoxy and drive views it disfavors from the public square and affirm that graphic artist Lorie Smith and all artists-writers, painters, photographers, filmmakers, calligraphers, cake artists, and more-have the right to create freely without fear of government punishment.” “The same law being used to punish Jack is also at issue now at the U.S. No one should be forced to express a message that violates their core beliefs,” said ADF Senior Counsel Jake Warner, who argued before the court on behalf of Phillips. That court also ruled against Jack in a decision that would force him to express messages that violate his beliefs. Scardina opted not to appeal the Commission’s dismissal, instead filing a lawsuit which could bring financial ruin on Jack and his business.Ī trial court ruled against Jack, so ADF appealed his case to the state appeals court. The claims are similar to those raised in the case against Jack that Colorado already dismissed. Scardina then sued Jack again about the same gender-transition cake request-only this time in a different court.Īutumn Scardina filed a lawsuit against Jack in state court. It wasn’t until Jack sued the state for targeting him and ADF uncovered more evidence demonstrating the state’s anti-religious hostility that Colorado officials finally ended their crusade against him.Īfter Colorado abandoned the complaint against Jack, Scardina waited until long after the deadline to appeal that decision passed, and then decided to start over somewhere else. Still, when Scardina filed a charge against Jack with the Colorado Civil Rights Division, it took the charge as an excuse to go after Jack again. This request was for a custom cake featuring Satan smoking marijuana. Supreme Court announced that it would hear Jack’s first case-Jack and Masterpiece Cakeshop were all over the news.Īnd a few months later, Scardina made another request of Masterpiece Cakeshop. The shop declined the request because the message of the cake contradicts Jack’s religious belief that God creates us either male or female.īut the day that call came wasn’t just another summer day. On June 26, 2017, a local attorney named Autumn Scardina called Masterpiece Cakeshop and requested a custom cake: designed blue on the outside and pink on the inside to celebrate and reflect a transition from male to female. This includes Halloween cakes, cakes advocating drug use, and cakes disparaging people, including those who identify as LGBT. But he cannot custom-design cakes that express messages that violate his deeply held religious beliefs. He serves everyone who walks into his shop. Jack Phillips is once again being threatened with punishment for exercising free speech and his religious freedom.īy now, you’ve probably heard a lot about Jack. Read the details of Jack’s latest case below. Thankfully, after Jack filed a federal lawsuit against the state, it backed off.īut Jack’s legal journey wasn't over. The individual who requested the gender-transition cake (and who also happens to be an attorney) wasn’t satisfied and decided to sue Jack in state court. This time around, Colorado officials came after Jack because he declined to custom-design a cake celebrating a gender transition.Ĭolorado was unjustly targeting Jack. But just when Jack thought he could breathe a sigh of relief, the same Colorado government agency decided to pursue Jack a second time-mere weeks after the high court’s decision. Supreme Court held that the state had acted with “clear and impermissible hostility” toward Jack’s religious beliefs, violating the First Amendment. In a 7-to-2 ruling in favor of Jack, the U.S. On June 4, 2018, Jack finally received the victory he deserved in that case. It all started in 2012 when the Colorado Civil Rights Commission pursued legal action against him after he respectfully declined a request to custom-design a cake celebrating a same-sex wedding. For years, Colorado cake artist Jack Phillips has endured targeted attacks against him and his business, Masterpiece Cakeshop. ![]()
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