"We're asking the Supreme Court of the United States to take up our Fire Chief Ron Hittle case," says attorney Stephanie Taub of First Liberty Institute. "This is the case where the City of Stockton, California, fired their fire chief for attending a leadership conference that took place at a church."
The lower courts denied his ability to present his case of religious discrimination to a jury. First Liberty is asking the Supreme Court to clarify the legal standards that apply in cases alleging employment discrimination.
"[The city] ordered him to attend some sort of leadership training, and he searched for the ones that were most cost-effective and most high-quality," Taub explains. "He found this world-class leadership summit that he could attend locally without having to incur expensive out-of-state travel – and this is a conference that in past years included [former] President Bill Clinton and CEOs [as speakers]."
It could be a few months before First Liberty hears whether the U.S. Supreme Court will take the case. The legal group is known for having religious liberty cases at the High Court. In Groff v. DeJoy, for example, the Court unanimously held in favor of a postal employee in a religious accommodation case.
"Employees who face denials of their religious accommodation have increased rights now thanks to the Supreme Court ruling in that case," the attorney adds.
AFN has been told by the City of Stockton that it "will not be commenting at this time."
