News & Analysis as of September 9, 2025

First Amendment › Due Process › Religious Discrimination

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The First Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibits the government from making laws respecting the establishment of religion, prohibiting the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech... more +

The First Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibits the government from making laws respecting the establishment of religion, prohibiting the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech or the press, preventing citizens from peacefully assembling, or interfering with citizens' ability to petition the government for redress of their grievances. The First Amendment is one of the most sacred aspects of the American legal tradition and has spawned a vast body of jurisprudence and commentary. less -

Ninth Circuit Rules on Caste as a Protected Class in CSU’s Anti-Discrimination Policy

Meyers Nave on 3/21/2025

On March 12, 2025, the Ninth Circuit issued its decision in Kumar v. Koester, dismissing a constitutional challenge to a university’s anti-discrimination policy that added “caste” as a protected class. Effective January 1,...more

Islamic Community Center Denied Variance Needed to Operate Mosque; Files Lawsuit Against Michigan City

Robinson+Cole RLUIPA Defense on 11/21/2018

Earlier this month, an Islamic community center filed suit against the City of Troy, Michigan (“City”) after the City denied the group’s application for a variance needed to operate a mosque at the property it owns in the...more

Federal Court Rejects Church’s Religious Land Use Claims Based on Government’s Legitimate Zoning Concerns

Robinson+Cole RLUIPA Defense on 4/23/2018

A federal court in Nevada has ruled that the denial of a church’s special use permit application to develop property with a house of worship did not violate RLUIPA’s substantial burden provision, the Equal Protection Clause,...more

City of Bayonne, New Jersey Sued Over Denial of Application to Build a Mosque

Robinson+Cole RLUIPA Defense on 6/8/2017

Last month, Bayonne Muslims, a New Jersey not-for-profit religious congregation, sued the City of Bayonne, New Jersey (the “City”), challenging the City’s denial of certain variances needed to construct a mosque. ...more

Fourth Circuit Rules Second Immigration Ban Likely Violates Establishment Clause

Robinson+Cole RLUIPA Defense on 5/31/2017

The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in a 10-3 decision has affirmed a lower court’s granting of a preliminary injunction against one provision of President Trump’s second immigration ban on the ground...more

RLUIPA Implications of Trump’s Immigration Executive Order

Robinson+Cole RLUIPA Defense on 2/21/2017

Earlier this month, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upheld a district court’s issuance of a temporary restraining order prohibiting the enforcement of Executive Order 13769 – “Protecting The Nation From...more

Prevailing RLUIPA Defendant Denied Attorneys’ Fees

Robinson+Cole RLUIPA Defense on 9/13/2016

This summer, we reported that Genoa Charter Township prevailed in a lawsuit filed by Livingston Christian Schools (LSC), which claimed that the Township violated RLUIPA’s substantial burden provision, the First Amendment to...more

Michigan Township Prevails on Federal Religious Discrimination Claims

Robinson+Cole RLUIPA Defense on 7/20/2016

A federal court in Michigan has ruled that Genoa Charter Township did not violate federal law in denying a church’s application for a special use permit to operate a religious school. Livingston Christian Schools (LSC)...more

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