The Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Tuesday in the case of Groff v. DeJoy, which concerns a former mail carrier in Pennsylvania's Amish Country who claims the U.S. Postal Service failed to accommodate his religious beliefs. Gerald Groff, an evangelical Christian, says he was unlawfully punished for refusing to work on Sundays to observe the Sabbath.
The case could have far-reaching implications for employers and employees across the country. The Supreme Court appeared to agree on the need to clarify a long-standing rule for when U.S. employers must accommodate the religious beliefs of their employees.
At issue is the interpretation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits employment discrimination based on religion. The law requires employers to make reasonable accommodations for employees' religious beliefs, unless doing so would cause an undue hardship.
The Supreme Court seemed to side with Groff during oral arguments, with several justices expressing concern that the Postal Service did not do enough to accommodate his religious beliefs. Justice Neil Gorsuch asked whether the Postal Service could have simply hired another worker to cover Groff's Sunday shift.
The case is also notable for the fact that it involves a postal worker in Pennsylvania's Amish Country, where many residents are members of the Amish faith and observe strict religious practices. Groff's case has garnered support from religious organizations, including the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, which filed a brief in support of his argument.
The Becket Fund argues that the Postal Service's actions violated Groff's First Amendment rights to free exercise of religion. The organization contends that the Postal Service could have easily accommodated Groff's request to not work on Sundays, but instead chose to punish him for his religious beliefs.
The Postal Service, for its part, argues that it made reasonable accommodations for Groff's religious beliefs by allowing him to take Sundays off for several years before changing its policy. The agency also argues that it did not discriminate against Groff because it treated all employees the same, regardless of their religious beliefs.
The case has been winding its way through the courts for several years. In 2018, Groff filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, alleging that the Postal Service had violated his religious rights. When the agency declined to pursue his complaint, Groff filed a lawsuit in federal court.
The case has particular significance in light of recent Supreme Court decisions on religious freedom. Last year, the court ruled in favor of a Catholic school in a case involving employment discrimination. The court held that religious employers have broad discretion to hire and fire employees who perform religious functions.
The court is expected to issue a ruling in Groff v. DeJoy in the coming months. The decision could have implications for other cases involving religious accommodation in the workplace, as well as for the broader debate over religious freedom in the United States.
