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Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission v. Woods

Petition for certiorari denied on March 21, 2022

Docket No. Op. Below Argument Opinion Vote Author Term
21-144 Wash. N/A N/A N/A N/A OT 2021

Issue: (1) Whether the First Amendment protects Seattle"s Union Gospel Mission"s right to hire coreligionists; (2) whether denying the Mission a total exemption from non-discrimination law that the state grants to secular, small businesses violates the free exercise clause; and (3) whether the Washington Supreme Court violated the free exercise clause by showing at least a "slight suspicion" of hostility to religious beliefs in deleting a total exemption the legislature bestowed.

SCOTUSblog Coverage

DateProceedings and Orders (key to color coding)
08/02/2021Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due September 2, 2021)
08/10/2021Blanket Consent filed by Petitioner, Seattle's Union Gospel Mission
08/24/2021Blanket Consent filed by Respondent, Matthew S. Woods
08/24/2021Motion to extend the time to file a response from September 2, 2021 to November 1, 2021, submitted to The Clerk.
08/26/2021Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including November 1, 2021.
08/30/2021Brief amicus curiae of Samaritan's Purse filed.
08/31/2021Brief amicus curiae of Westminster Theological Seminary filed.
08/31/2021Brief amici curiae of 20 Current and Former Washington State Legislators filed.
09/01/2021Brief amicus curiae of Citygate Network filed.
09/02/2021Brief amici curiae of Gospel Rescue Mission Fellowship, et al. filed.
09/02/2021Brief amicus curiae of Billy Graham Evangelistic Association filed.
09/02/2021Brief amici curiae of Montana, et al. filed.
09/02/2021Brief amici curiae of Alabama, et al. filed.
09/02/2021Brief amici curiae of Christian Legal Society, et al. filed.
09/02/2021Brief amici curiae of General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventists, et al. filed.
09/02/2021Brief amicus curiae of Grace Youth and Family Foundation filed.
09/02/2021Brief amicus curiae of First Liberty Institute filed.
09/02/2021Brief amici curiae of Islam and Religious Freedom Action Team of the Religious Freedom Institute, et al. filed.
09/02/2021Brief amicus curiae of Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence filed.
09/02/2021Brief amicus curiae of Kevin C. Walsh filed.
09/02/2021Brief amicus curiae of National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference filed.
09/02/2021Brief amici curiae of American Association of Christian Schools, et al. filed.
09/08/2021Amicus brief of American Association of Christian Schools, et al. not accepted for filing. (Dupilicate submission) (September 08, 2021)
11/01/2021Brief of respondent Matthew S. Woods in opposition filed.
11/15/2021Reply of petitioner Seattle's Union Gospel Mission filed. (Distributed)
11/16/2021DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 12/3/2021.
11/30/2021Rescheduled.
12/06/2021DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 12/10/2021.
12/07/2021Rescheduled.
01/03/2022DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/7/2022.
01/04/2022Rescheduled.
01/10/2022DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/14/2022.
01/13/2022Rescheduled.
01/18/2022DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/21/2022.
01/19/2022Rescheduled.
02/11/2022DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 2/18/2022.
02/16/2022Rescheduled.
02/22/2022DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 2/25/2022.
02/23/2022Rescheduled.
02/28/2022DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 3/4/2022.
03/14/2022DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 3/18/2022.
03/21/2022Petition DENIED. Statement of Justice Alito, with whom Justice Thomas joins, respecting the denial of certiorari. (Detached Opinion)