About this Case
A church in Orlando, Florida, had a ministry of holding church services for and of feeding the homeless in a public park. After residents in the surrounding neighborhood complained, Orlando passed an ordinance specifically aimed at making the church’s services impossible. The church sued, arguing the ordinance violated its First Amendment rights of free speech, free exercise of religion, and free assembly; and the Florida Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Unfortunately, the district court and the court of appeals ruled against the church.
Summary of NLF's Brief
Our brief addressed the church’s claim under Florida’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act. We explained that including meals in the church’s worship services was a sincerely held religious belief of this particular church and that the ordinance directly targeted this aspect of the church’s beliefs. The court of appeals acknowledged these points yet still ruled against the church.