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North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention Inc. v. McRaney

Petition for certiorari denied on June 28, 2021
Docket No. Op. Below Argument Opinion Vote Author Term
20-1158 5th Cir. N/A N/A N/A N/A OT 2020

Issues: (1) Whether a secular court can, consistent with the First Amendment’s religion clauses, adjudicate a minister’s employment-related state-law tort claims against a religious organization using neutral principles of tort law; and (2) whether the First Amendment precludes the adjudication of a minister’s employment-related state-law tort claims only when brought against the legal entity that was the minister’s employer.

DateProceedings and Orders (key to color coding)
Feb 17 2021Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due March 25, 2021)
Feb 26 2021Blanket Consent filed by Petitioner, The North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, Inc.
Mar 02 2021Waiver of Will McRaney of right to respond not accepted for filing. (March 04, 2021)
Mar 04 2021Waiver of right of respondent Will McRaney to respond filed.
Mar 10 2021DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 3/26/2021.
Mar 12 2021Brief amici curiae of The American Association of Christian Schools & The Association of Christian Schools International filed. (Distributed)
Mar 18 2021Brief amici curiae of Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention filed. (Distributed)
Mar 22 2021Response Requested. (Due April 21, 2021)
Mar 24 2021Motion to extend the time to file a response from April 21, 2021 to May 21, 2021, submitted to The Clerk.
Mar 25 2021Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including May 21, 2021.
Mar 25 2021Brief amici curiae of National Legal Foundation, et al. filed.
Apr 20 2021Brief amici curiae of Agudath Israel of America and Torah Umesorah filed.
Apr 21 2021Brief amici curiae of States of Texas, Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Utah filed.
Apr 21 2021Brief amici curiae of Professors Elizabeth A. Clark, Robert F. Cochran, Jr., Carl H. Esbeck, David F. Forte, Richard W. Garnett, Christopher C. Lund, Michael W. McConnell, Michael P. Moreland, Robert J. Pushaw, and David A. Skeel filed.
May 20 2021Brief of respondent Will McRaney in opposition filed.
May 26 2021Letter waiving the 14-day waiting period for the filing of a reply pursuant to Rule 15.5 filed.
May 28 2021Reply of petitioner The North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, Inc. filed. (Distributed)
Jun 01 2021DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 6/17/2021.
Jun 16 2021Rescheduled.
Jun 21 2021DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 6/24/2021.
Jun 28 2021Petition DENIED.