Category Archives: Federal Courts

Appeals court: No exemption for religious views

A federal appeals panel in Philadelphia ruled Monday that a Catholic-run child placement agency's religious views do not entitle it to an exemption from the city's law prohibiting sexual orientation discrimination.

Supreme Court will review three Title VII cases

In what one legal activist termed an "aggressive" move, the U.S. Supreme Court announced Monday it will review lower court decisions in three Title VII workplace discrimination cases --two that were resolved in favor of LGBT employees, one in favor

“Deeply disturbing message” in Supreme Court silence

The U.S. Supreme Court refused Monday to hear the appeal of a death row inmate whose attorneys gathered sworn statements from the man's jury that some jurors expressed anti-gay bias in deciding to give the man the death penalty.

Supreme Court declines B&B’s appeal for religious exemption

The U.S. Supreme Court declined to accept an appeal from a Honolulu bed-and-breakfast which sought the right to refuse to accommodate a same-sex couple by citing religious beliefs. Still another such public accommodation appeal is pending before the high court,

Courts splitting over Fair Housing protection

With the increasing number of seniors, more courts are weighing in on --and disagreeing-- whether the federal Fair Housing Act provides protection to LGBT people seeking admission to senior communities.

Trump dumps one gay nominee, downgrades another

President Trump has not resubmitted the nomination of an openly lesbian judge to serve on the federal district court in Illinois and has dropped a gay male attorney's nomination from the Ninth Circuit appeals to the district court in San

Supreme Court hands Trump temporary win on trans ban

The U.S. Supreme Court said Tuesday that the Trump administration could begin implementing its ban on transgender people in the military but said it would look at the constitutionality of the policy after the lower courts have ruled.

Trump tries to rush courts on trans ban

The Trump administration as asked the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene early in litigation over his proposed ban on transgender people in the military.

Employment cases at Supreme Court conference

Three important cases involving Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and whether it prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity are on the Supreme Court's "conference" list November 30.

Trump nominates gay man to Ninth Circuit appeals court

President Trump this month nominated an openly gay federal prosecutor to serve on the Ninth Circuit federal appeals court. It was his first gay appeals appointment; his second gay judicial appointment.