The Episcopal Church v. The Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth
Petition for certiorari denied on November 3, 2014| Docket No. | Op. Below | Argument | Opinion | Vote | Author | Term |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13-1520 | Tex. | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | OT 2014 |
Disclosure: Goldstein & Russell, P.C., whose attorneys contribute to this blog in various capacities, is among counsel to the amicus curiae in this case.
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.
SCOTUSblog Coverage
- Petition of the day (Maureen Johnston, October 3, 2014)
| Date | Proceedings and Orders |
|---|---|
| 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. |
