The Court, unfortunately, did not rule that the Bake Me a Cake, Bigot law was itself unconstitutional, only that the members of the Colorado Civil Rights Commission showed a “hostility” and “animus” to religion that made this particular decision invalid.
The Supreme Court sided with a Colorado baker on Monday in a closely watched case pitting gay rights against claims of religious freedom.
Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, writing for the majority in the 7-2 decision, relied on narrow grounds, saying a state commission had violated the Constitution’s protection of religious freedom in ruling against the baker, Jack Phillips, who had refused to create a custom wedding cake for a gay couple.
“The neutral and respectful consideration to which Phillips was entitled was compromised here,” Justice Kennedy wrote. “The Civil Rights Commission’s treatment of his case has some elements of a clear and impermissible hostility toward the sincere religious beliefs that motivated his objection.”
The Supreme Court’s decision, which turned on the commission’s asserted hostility to religion, strongly reaffirmed protections for gay rights and left open the possibility that other cases raising similar issues could be decided differently.”The outcome of cases like this in other circumstances must await further elaboration in the courts,” Justice Kennedy wrote, “all in the context of recognizing that these disputes must be resolved with tolerance, without undue disrespect to sincere religious beliefs, and without subjecting gay persons to indignities when they seek goods and services in an open market.”
Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and Justices Stephen G. Breyer, Samuel A. Alito Jr., Elena Kagan and Neil M. Gorsuch joined the majority opinion. Justice Clarence Thomas voted with the majority but would have adopted broader reasons.
Note that Hawaiian Judges have previously ruled that Trump’s alleged animus and hostility to Muslims makes his travel ban unconstitutional, even though such measures are generally constitutional.
A victory for Common Sense and Conservatives over demands of a group of idiots the Colorado Civil Rights Commission needs to be abolished. This sure to get the ACLU upset
Of course, the left blamed… wait for it… TRUMP. Even without Gorsuch, justice would have prevailed.
Now, are we to believe the betrothed haven’t gotten their cake yet or did they merely find another bakery (probably the next one in the book) to bake their cake? Or, did they even want a cake to begin with? More than likely, it was merely a stunt to show how the far left can force anyone to believe what they do.
I hope this baker’s property insurance is paid up; my guess is, this is not the end of the matter. The left has a nasty habit of dealing with the collapse of their stupid notions with violence.
Sore winners just took a hit. The shopping to file suit spree is over. The decision was not resounding nor definitive it was narrowly for this case only. I hope it sends a signal to the liberal community that you cant force people to participate in all your ideas.
@kitt: I doubt it. Remember, they never put their own money up and win or lose, they get to go before cameras and be queen for a day. The left wing assault on our rights and freedoms will never end until they are gone.
The MSM labeled the 7-2 decision as a “narrow decision”. And then they whine when they are called fake news.
@another vet: Sometimes their tendency to lie just takes over and they can’t help themselves. They lie for no purpose.
@Deplorable Me: The decision must be made your rights end where my rights begin. The article stated he also refused to make anti gay wedding cakes on 3 occasions, so he isnt participating in bashing, or didn’t fall for that trap.