SNAPSHOT
Clergy representing five different religions assert that HB 5 violates Freedom of Speech, Free Exercise of Religion, and the Florida Religious Freedom Restoration Act
THE CASE
- Seven Florida-based faith leaders filed a lawsuit in Florida court in Miami-Dade County seeking to overturn Florida’s controversial law, HB 5.
- HB 5 restricts abortion after 15 weeks and provides no exception for incest, rape, or trafficking
- The plaintiffs represent clergy from Reform Judaism, Buddhism, the Episcopal Church, the United Church of Christ, and the Unitarian Universalist Church.
- The lawsuit follows the decision by the United States Supreme Court in June 2022 overturning the precedent set by Roe v. Wade, which paved the way for HB 5 to take effect in Florida.
- They assert that HB 5 violates their constitutional rights of freedom of speech and free exercise of religion, the constitutional separation of Church and State, and the Florida Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
- The plaintiffs are seeking an immediate stay in the state’s enforcement of HB 5 and for the law to be ruled unconstitutional.
LEAD REPRESENTATION
Vivek Jayaram and Liz Austermuehle | Jayaram Law
Marci Hamilton | Law and Religion Expert; Professor of Practice in Political Science at the University of Pennsylvania
Adlai Small, Danielle Moriber and David Harrison | Spiro Harrison
OUR STATEMENT
“We’re a minority-owned, female-majority law firm that celebrates and champions people’s fundamental rights. It’s at the core of who we are and the absolute right thing to do. It also makes us stronger as lawyers. We’re compelled to be at the forefront of change, seizing opportunities to help swing the pendulum of justice in favor of what is right; upholding and reinstating laws that protect marginalized groups and fundamental rights for all. The lawsuits presented by us stand for the rule of law and for the protection of everyone’s right to freely exercise their religion in the United States.” — Vivek Jayaram, Founder
The full complaint can be found: here.