Jack Phillips, the owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop, is once again facing legal challenges as the Colorado Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case against him. This marks a continuation of Phillips’ more than 11-year legal battle for his right to religious freedom. The case originated when Phillips declined to create a custom cake for a same-sex wedding, leading to a 2012 lawsuit that eventually reached the U.S. Supreme Court. In 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Colorado was hostile to Phillips’ religious beliefs and that the government couldn’t force him to create custom works of art that conveyed a message contrary to his faith.
However, Phillips faced another lawsuit in 2018, this time from a transgender lawyer who requested a cake celebrating a gender transition. When Phillips declined, citing his religious beliefs, he was accused of discrimination. The Colorado Supreme Court has now agreed to hear this new case.
Phillips expressed his hope that this case will bring resolution, stating that his refusal to create custom cakes is not about whom he serves but rather the messages he is asked to convey. He believes it’s essential for the court to recognize this distinction.
Attorney Jake Warner, representing Phillips on behalf of the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), argued that the initial lawsuit was a setup aimed at targeting Phillips and his beliefs. The transgender lawyer, Autumn Scardina, requested a cake celebrating a gender transition and, when refused, made another request involving a cake depicting Satan smoking marijuana, which Phillips also declined. During the trial, Scardina even promised to request another cake and start another lawsuit if the current case was dismissed.
Despite facing numerous threats and legal battles, Phillips emphasized that the challenges have strengthened his faith and brought his family closer together. He noted that individuals from diverse backgrounds have stood by him during this time.
Phillips clarified that Scardina is not his enemy, and he has nothing to forgive personally. He views this case as a matter of defending his religious freedom and the right to express his beliefs without fear of punishment.
Oral arguments for the case have not yet been scheduled but are expected in the spring of the following year. ADF will argue that, given the Supreme Court’s previous rulings, the law is on Phillips’ side, and his right to free speech and religious expression should be upheld.
In conclusion, Jack Phillips, the owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop, continues to defend his religious freedom in a new legal battle as the Colorado Supreme Court agrees to hear a case against him. Phillips remains hopeful for a positive resolution and emphasizes that his case is about his right to express his religious beliefs without fear of punishment.
