The U.S. Supreme Court will hear opening arguments today on Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc., which tackles the politically hot-button topics of the Affordable Care Act, religious freedom and women’s access to birth control and emergency contraceptives.

UT Professor of Law Lee J. Strang said this complex case with a lot of moving parts will have far-reaching implications for the free exercise of religion and corporations seeking an exemption to the Health and Human Services Mandate.

“This case is attracting a lot of attention, and rightly so,” Strang said. “The Affordable Care Act is President Obama’s signature legislation and there is a growing movement of religious people who are asking for a hands-off approach from the federal government under the ACA.”

The Greens, a Christian family who owns Hobby Lobby, is protesting the Health and Human Services Mandate, which they argue requires employers to go against their religious beliefs to provide health insurance with coverage of contraceptive and abortion-inducing drugs.

The Greens claim the mandate violates the First Amendment, which states “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,” and also the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), which prohibits laws that substantially burden a person’s free exercise of his or her religion.

Strang is available to talk discuss the Supreme Court case and its implications.

Contact Meghan Cunningham at 419.530.2410 or meghan.cunningham@utoledo.edu to schedule an interview.

Media Coverage
The Blade (July 1, 2014)

Tags: College of Law