Mar 23, 2018
Argued on December 5th, 2017, with a decision of the Court still pending, Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission asks whether Baker and Cakeshop owner Jack Phillips violated Colorado's Anti-discrimination law by denying his services to Charlie Craig and David Mullins who requested a custom made cake for their gay wedding; the wedding being something Jack Phillips cannot celebrate due to his strong, sincerely held Christian values. More broadly, the Court is being asked: (1)if the baking of a custom cake constitutes speech, and as such falls under 1st amendment protections, as well as what other actions, events, occupations, and justifications fall inside or outside 1st amendment protections; (2) does the speech being conveyed in a custom work showcase the person making the custom work (the baker), or showcase the message being requested (the gay couple) and does the person doing the custom work have a right to object; (3) does the government have the right to compel a citizen to participate in acts that contradict their religious beliefs; and (4)do the remedy procedures outlined in the Colorado Anti-discrimination law violate the free exercise and establishment clauses of the Constitution.