Religious speech to have its day at the Supreme Court Monday: Court to decide whether graphic designer is protected by the law

WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court will hear arguments in an important free speech case on Monday to decide whether the government can force a religious person to speak against her conscience or give up her chosen profession. In 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis, web designer Lorie Smith is fighting to operate her business while maintaining her Christian beliefs about marriage. Becket filed a friend-of-the-court brief, arguing that religious speech like Smith’s is at the historical core of the freedom of speech and must be protected. 

As the owner of 303 Creative, Smith wishes to expand her website design business to include wedding websites. However, a Colorado law has prevented her from expanding her business because of her Christian religious beliefs. She is now asking the Supreme Court to protect her against being forced to say something she does not believe.  

“Thomas Becket, Thomas More, the Quakers, and Martin Luther King Jr. all had something in common—they spoke their religious consciences and were punished for it by government officials,” said Eric Rassbach, vice president and senior counsel at Becket. “History shows that religious dissenters have always been at the center of battles over freedom of speech, and that in the long arc of history, they have won freedom of speech rights we all enjoy. The Supreme Court should stand within that tradition and protect Smith’s right not to say what she does not believe.” 

What:
Oral argument 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis

When:
Monday, December 5, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. ET  

Where:
Listen to the CSPAN live stream here. 

For more information or to arrange an interview, contact Ryan Colby at media@becketlaw.org or 202-349-7219. Interviews can be arranged in English, Mandarin, French, German, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.