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The Episcopal Church v. The Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth

Certiorari Denied

Petition for certiorari denied on November 3, 2014.

Docket No.13-1520
Op. BelowTex.

Issue

(1) Whether the First Amendment or Jones v. Wolf requires courts to enforce express trusts recited in general-church governing documents (as some jurisdictions hold), or whether such a trust is enforceable only when it would otherwise comply with state law (as others hold); (2) whether retroactive application of the neutral-principles approach infringes free-exercise rights; and (3) whether the neutral-principles approach endorsed in Jones remains a constitutionally viable means of resolving church-property disputes, especially in light of Hosanna-Tabor v. EEOC.

Proceedings & orders timeline

Jun 19, 2014
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due July 21, 2014)
Jun 23, 2014
Waiver of right of respondents All Respondents listed in paragraph 4 on pages iv-v of the Petition to respond filed.
Jul 3, 2014
Waiver of right of respondent All Respondents listed in paragraph 5 on page v. of the petition to respond filed.
Jul 14, 2014
Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs, in support of either party or of neither party, received from counsel for the respondents in paragraph 4, iv-v of the petition.
Jul 14, 2014
Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs, in support of either party or of neither party, received from counsel for the respondents Robert Masterson, et al. in paragraph 5, (v)
Jul 16, 2014
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of September 29, 2014.
Jul 21, 2014
Brief amici curiae of The Episcopal Church in South Carolina, et al. filed. (Distributed)
Jul 21, 2014
Brief amici curiae of The Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church, et al. filed. (Distributed)
Jul 21, 2014
Brief amicus curiae of The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America filed. (Distributed)
Jul 28, 2014
Response Requested . (Due August 27, 2014)
Aug 19, 2014
Order extending time to file response to petition to and including September 26, 2014, for all respondents.
Aug 27, 2014
Brief amicus curiae of The Rutherford Institute filed.
Sep 26, 2014
Brief of respondents Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth, et al. in opposition filed.
Sep 26, 2014
Brief of respondents Robert Masterson, et al. in opposition filed.
Oct 14, 2014
Reply of petitioners The Episcopal Church, et al. filed.
Oct 15, 2014
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of October 31, 2014.
Nov 3, 2014
Petition DENIED.

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