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Apache Stronghold v. United States

Petition for certiorari denied on May 27, 2025

Docket No. Op. Below Argument Opinion Vote Author Term
24-291 9th Cir. N/A N/A N/A N/A OT 2024

Issue: Whether the government "substantially burdens" religious exercise under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, or must satisfy heightened scrutiny under the free exercise clause of the First Amendment, when it singles out a sacred site for complete physical destruction, ending specific religious rituals forever.

SCOTUSblog Coverage

DateProceedings and Orders (key to color coding)
07/26/2024Application (24A110) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from August 12, 2024 to September 11, 2024, submitted to Justice Kagan.
08/01/2024Application (24A110) granted by Justice Kagan extending the time to file until September 11, 2024.
09/11/2024Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due October 15, 2024)
09/27/2024Motion to extend the time to file a response from October 15, 2024 to October 22, 2024, submitted to The Clerk.
10/01/2024Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including October 22, 2024, for all respondents.
10/14/2024Brief amici curiae of 85 Religious Organizations filed.
10/15/2024Brief amici curiae of San Carlos Apache Tribe, et al. filed.
10/15/2024Brief amici curiae of Christian Legal Society, et al. filed.
10/15/2024Brief amici curiae of The Sikh Coalition, et al. filed.
10/15/2024Brief amici curiae of Religious Freedom Institute, et al. filed.
10/15/2024Brief amici curiae of Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty, et al. filed.
10/15/2024Brief amici curiae of Senator Mike Lee, et al. filed.
10/15/2024Brief amici curiae of Young America's Foundation, et al. filed.
10/15/2024Brief amici curiae of Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, et al. filed.
10/15/2024Brief amici curiae of 52 Tribal Nations and Organizations filed.
10/15/2024Brief amici curiae of Oklahoma, et al. filed.
10/15/2024Brief amicus curiae of the Knights of Columbus filed.
10/15/2024Brief amici curiae of Apache Elder Ramon Riley, et al. filed.
10/15/2024Brief amici curiae of Religious Liberty Law Scholars filed.
10/15/2024Brief amici curiae of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A), et al. not accepted for filing. (October 23, 2024 - Corrected brief to be submitted)
10/15/2024Brief amici curiae of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A), et al. filed.
10/22/2024Brief of Federal Respondents in opposition filed.
10/22/2024Brief of respondent Resolution Copper Mining, LLC in opposition filed.
11/06/2024DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 11/22/2024.
11/06/2024Reply of petitioner Apache Stronghold filed. (Distributed)
11/19/2024Rescheduled.
12/02/2024DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 12/6/2024.
12/09/2024DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 12/13/2024.
01/06/2025DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/10/2025.
01/13/2025DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/17/2025.
01/21/2025DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/24/2025.
02/14/2025DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 2/21/2025.
02/24/2025DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 2/28/2025.
03/03/2025DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 3/7/2025.
03/17/2025DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 3/21/2025.
03/24/2025DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 3/28/2025.
03/31/2025DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 4/4/2025.
04/14/2025DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 4/17/2025.
04/18/2025Letter from counsel for petitioner filed. (Distributed)
04/21/2025DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 4/25/2025.
04/21/2025Letter from counsel for respondent Resolution Copper Mining, LLC filed. (Distributed)
04/21/2025Letter from the Solicitor General filed. (Distributed)
04/24/2025Letter from counsel for petitioner filed. (Distributed)
04/28/2025DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 5/2/2025.
05/12/2025DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 5/15/2025.
05/12/2025Letter from counsel for petitioner filed.
05/13/2025Letter from the Solicitor General filed.
05/19/2025DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 5/22/2025.
05/27/2025Petition DENIED. Justice Alito took no part in the consideration or decision of this petition. Justice Gorsuch, with whom Justice Thomas joins, dissenting from the denial of certiorari. (Detached Opinion)