S.Ct.Update - 10/19/97

[Scott Idleman]

Below is the U.S. Supreme Court's religion docket as of 10/19/97:


        A.      Decisions and Other Nonpreliminary Dispositions

                O'Leary v. Mack, 118 S. Ct. ___ (Oct. 6, 1997) (No.
96-1598), granting cert. to and, in light of City of Boerne v. Flores, 117
S. Ct. 2157 (June 25, 1997), vacating the judgment of 80 F.3d 1175 (7th
Cir. 1996) (Prison's refusal to accommodate religious needs of Muslim
inmates; RFRA; definition of "substantial burden").

        B.      Grants of Review and Preliminary Dispositions

        C.      Certiorari Petitions and Appeals Filed

                No. 96-1587, Albuquerque, N.M. v. Browner, 97 F.3d 415
(10th Cir. 1996) (Indian tribe's enforcement of its water quality
standards against upstream dischargers; Establishment Clause), cert.
petition filed, 65 U.S.L.W. 3694 (Apr. 7, 1997).

                No. 97-83, German Roman Catholic Congregation of St.
Michael's Church v. Wuerl, 668 A.2d 1151 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1995) (Property
dispute; standing), appeal denied, 683 A.2d 884 (Pa. 1996), cert. denied,
117 S. Ct. 956 (1997), and cert. petition filed, 66 U.S.L.W. ___ (July 14,
1997).

                No. 97-405, Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn v. Kenneth
R., 654 N.Y.S.2d 791 (N.Y. App. Div. 1997) (Negligent supervision of
clergy; sexual abuse of minors), cert. petition filed, 66 U.S.L.W. 3178
(Sept. 2, 1997).

        D.      Denials and Dismissals of Review or Relief

                No. 96-1819, Doe v. Massachusetts Dep't of Social Servs.
(In re Care & Protection of Minor Child) (Mass. Jan. 28, 1997) (Foster
care; gay foster parents; religious liberty; mootness), cert. denied, 118
S. Ct. ___ (Oct. 6, 1997).

                No. 96-1874, Chalmers v. Tulon Co. of Richmond, 101 F.3d
1012 (4th Cir. 1996) (Employment discrimination; religious accommodation;
employee who sent letters to co-workers criticizing their lives;
discharge), cert. denied, 118 S. Ct. ___ (Oct. 6, 1997).

                No. 96-1894, Tanford v. Brand, 104 F.3d 982 (7th Cir.
1997) (Prayer at state university graduation; Establishment Clause), cert.
denied, 118 S. Ct. ___ (Oct. 6, 1997).

                No. 96-1997, Zimmer v. Naumann, 1997 WL 10520 (Minn. Ct.
App. June 16, 1997) (Order barring entry of church property; evidence;
internal church governance), cert. denied, 118 S. Ct. ___ (Oct. 6, 1997).

                No. 96-2024, Moran v. Moran, 933 S.W.2d 1207 (Ariz. Ct.
App. 1996) (Disregard of marriage license requirement for religious
reasons), cert. denied, 118 S. Ct. ___ (Oct. 6, 1997).

                No. 97-48, Douglass v. United States, (5th Cir.) (unpubl.)
(Employment discrimination; gender; retaliation; witchcraft; immunity),
cert. denied, 118 S. Ct. ___ (Oct. 6, 1997).

                No. 97-211, Grand Fraternity Rosae Crucis v. Moyer, ___
F.3d ___ (3d Cir. ___) (Religion; battle for organizational control;
federal jurisdiction), cert. denied, 118 S. Ct. ___ (Oct. 14, 1997).

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