News
Supreme Court Refuses Anti-Gay Florist’s Case – For Now

The U.S. Supreme Court is refusing to hear the case of Barronelle Stutzman, the owner of Arlene’s Flowers, who refused to sell flowers to a same-sex couple for their wedding – for now.
Stutzman, a Washington state florist, was offered multiple opportunities to settle her case by state and local prosecutors but repeatedly refused. One offer was for $1000. At the same time, her attorneys have falsely claimed that by refusing the same-sex couple the elderly florist may lose her business, her home, and her savings. It’s a line repeated by many on the right. And it’s false.
She is represented by the Alliance Defending Freedom, the same anti-gay hate group that won a narrow ruling at the Supreme Court earlier this month for Colorado baker Jack Phillips.
The Supreme Court referred the case back to the lower court.
Monday morning’s Supreme Court order states that it has vacated the Washington Supreme Court’s original decision against Stutzman, and ordered the State Supreme Court to further consider the case “in light of” the Masterpiece Cakeshop ruling. That ruling the U.S. Supreme Court made clear was based on animus against the baker, not on discrimination against the same-sex couple.
Arlene's Flowers, the Washington florist asserting religious objection to providing flowers for a same-sex couple’s wedding (No. 17-108), #SCOTUS grants, vacates judgment and remands for consideration in light of Masterpiece. Order is here: https://t.co/Odwa3tZrnS pic.twitter.com/qJ6pcSeV64
— Equality Case Files (@EQCF) June 25, 2018
It’s unclear why the US Supreme Court would frame today’s order in the manner.
Some legal experts weigh in:
Entirely predictable maneuver. The Washington Supreme Court will reach the same conclusion on remand, setting up a potential SCOTUS showdown in the near future. But for now, Arlene’s Flowers is defused. https://t.co/DbQVh8AzIm
— Mark Joseph Stern (@mjs_DC) June 25, 2018
Since Masterpiece hinged on evident hostility of an official against the baker, lower court could quickly & easily reaffirm its earlier ruling against the florist — there’s no similar animus in the Arlene’s Flowers record
— Steven Mazie (@stevenmazie) June 25, 2018
This news means a religious florist who turned away a gay couple will have her case heard again at the WA State Supreme Court. Presumably they’ll consider if there was hostility to her religious beliefs, like the Colorado baker case. https://t.co/fWbQxqDC6N
— Dominic Holden (@dominicholden) June 25, 2018
CNN’s report:
JUST IN: The Supreme Court won't review a same-sex wedding flower case, "once again really side-stepping deciding this issue" reports @SchneiderCNN https://t.co/tyeUYf31oN https://t.co/R37uJCk9gk
— CNN Newsroom (@CNNnewsroom) June 25, 2018
Developing…
This is a breaking news and developing story. Details may change. This story will be updated, and NCRM will likely publish follow-up stories on this news. Stay tuned and refresh for updates.
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