Tanzin v. Tanvir
| Docket No. | Argument | Opinion | Vote | Author | Term |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19-71 | Oct 6, 2020 | Dec 10, 2020 | 8-0 | Thomas | OT 2020 |
Holding: The Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993"s express remedies provision, 42 U. S. C. "2000bb"1(c), permits litigants, when appropriate, to obtain money damages against federal officials in their individual capacities for violating litigants' right to free exercise of religion under the First Amendment.
Judgment: Affirmed, 8-0, in an opinion by Justice Thomas on December 10, 2020. Justice Barrett took no part in the consideration or decision of this case.
SCOTUSblog Coverage
- Opinion analysis: Justices allow Muslim men placed on no fly list to sue FBI agents for money damages (Amy Howe, December 10, 2020)
- Argument analysis: Justices divided on money damages for religious freedom lawsuits (Amy Howe, October 6, 2020)
- Case preview: Justices to consider availability of money damages in religious freedom lawsuits (Amy Howe, October 5, 2020)
- Justices to hear October arguments by phone (Amy Howe, September 16, 2020)
- Court releases October calendar (Amy Howe, July 13, 2020)
- Justices postpone March argument session (Amy Howe, March 16, 2020)
- Justices issue March argument calendar (Amy Howe, January 31, 2020)
- Justices grant governments petition in dispute over lawsuit against FBI agents (Amy Howe, November 22, 2019)
- Relist Watch (John Elwood, November 19, 2019)
- Petitions of the week (Aurora Barnes, August 22, 2019)
| Date | Proceedings and Orders |
|---|---|
| 05/03/2019 | Application (18A1135) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from May 15, 2019 to June 14, 2019, submitted to Justice Ginsburg. |
| 05/08/2019 | Application (18A1135) granted by Justice Ginsburg extending the time to file until June 14, 2019. |
| 06/03/2019 | Application (18A1135) to extend further the time from June 14, 2019 to July 14, 2019, submitted to Justice Ginsburg. |
| 06/04/2019 | Application (18A1135) granted by Justice Ginsburg extending the time to file until July 14, 2019. |
| 07/12/2019 | Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due August 12, 2019) |
| 07/25/2019 | Motion of Muhammad Tanvir, et al. for an extension of time not accepted for filing. (July 26, 2019 -- Corrected version to be submitted) |
| 07/29/2019 | Motion to extend the time to file a response from August 12, 2019 to October 11, 2019, submitted to The Clerk. |
| 08/02/2019 | Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including October 11, 2019. |
| 10/11/2019 | Brief of respondents Muhammad Tanvir, et al. in opposition filed. |
| 10/30/2019 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 11/15/2019. |
| 10/30/2019 | Reply of petitioners FNU Tanzin, et al. filed. (Distributed) |
| 11/18/2019 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 11/22/2019. |
| 11/22/2019 | Petition GRANTED. |
| 12/18/2019 | Motion to dispense with printing the joint appendix filed by petitioners FNU Tanzin, et al. |
| 01/06/2020 | Brief of petitioners FNU Tanzin, et al. filed. |
| 01/13/2020 | Motion to dispense with printing the joint appendix filed by petitioners GRANTED. |
| 01/13/2020 | Brief amici curiae of American Atheists, Center for Inquiry, et al. filed. |
| 01/13/2020 | Brief amici curiae of Freedom From Religion Foundation, et al. in support of neither party filed. |
| 01/28/2020 | Blanket Consent filed by Respondents, Muhammad Tanvir, et al. |
| 01/31/2020 | SET FOR ARGUMENT on Tuesday, March 24, 2020. |
| 02/05/2020 | Brief of respondents Muhammad Tanvir, et al. filed. |
| 02/12/2020 | Brief amicus curiae of The Sikh Coalition filed. |
| 02/12/2020 | Brief amicus curiae of Jeffrey D. Kahn filed. |
| 02/12/2020 | Brief amicus curiae of American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee filed. |
| 02/12/2020 | Brief amicus curiae of The Rutherford Institute filed. |
| 02/12/2020 | Brief amici curiae of Statutory Interpretation Scholars filed. |
| 02/12/2020 | Brief amicus curiae of The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty filed. |
| 02/12/2020 | Brief amici curiae of Religious and Civil-Rights Organizations filed. |
| 02/12/2020 | Brief amicus curiae of General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists filed. |
| 02/12/2020 | Brief amicus curiae of Muslim Advocates filed. |
| 02/12/2020 | Brief amicus curiae of Institute for Justice filed. |
| 02/12/2020 | Brief amici curiae of 67 Religious Organizations filed. |
| 02/12/2020 | Brief amici curiae of Fourteen Religious-Liberty Scholars, et al. filed. |
| 02/12/2020 | Brief amici curiae of Religious Organizations, Public Speakers and Scholars filed. |
| 02/19/2020 | Record requested from the U.S.C.A. 2nd Circuit. |
| 02/19/2020 | CIRCULATED |
| 02/20/2020 | Record from the USCA 2nd Circuit received electronically. |
| 03/06/2020 | Reply of petitioners FNU Tanzin, et al. filed. (Distributed) |
| 03/16/2020 | ORAL ARGUMENT POSTPONED. |
| 04/13/2020 | Argument to be rescheduled for the October Term 2020. |
| 07/13/2020 | SET FOR ARGUMENT on Tuesday, October 6, 2020. |
| 10/06/2020 | Argued. For petitioners: Edwin S. Kneedler, Deputy Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C. For respondents: Ramzi Kassem, Long Island City, N. Y. |
| 12/10/2020 | Adjudged to be AFFIRMED. Thomas, J., delivered the <a href = 'https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/20pdf/19-71_qol1.pdf'>opinion</a> of the Court, in which all other Members joined, except Barrett, J., who took no part in the consideration or decision of the case. |
| 01/11/2021 | JUDGMENT ISSUED. |