Friday, May 07, 2021

Court Enjoins Enforcement of NJ Township's Ordinances Aimed At Orthodox Jewish Community

In WR Property LLC v. Township of Jackson, (D NJ, May 5, 2021), a New Jersey federal district court issued a preliminary injunction against enforcement of two township ordinances which effectively prevent construction of Jewish schools in most of Jackson Township's residential zones and which interfere with constructing of eruvim  (symbolic religious boundary markings). The court concluded that plaintiffs were likely to succeed on the merits of their free exercise and equal protection claims, finding sufficient evidence that the ordinances were enacted with a discriminator purpose. Both the Department of Justice and the state of New Jersey have previously sued the township over its targeting of Orthodox Jews.