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Ben Adam v. William P. Barr, Attorney General, et al.

Paid petition · United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, No. 19-925 · judgment November 14, 2019


Certiorari denied · February 24, 2020
Pre-decision estimate: 0% cert probability

Before the decision, well below the 4.1% base rate, with no standout signals pointing toward a grant.

Question presented

The Questions Presented are:

  1. Did the Second Circuit err in finding that petitioner lacked standing to challenge a criminal statute under the threat of prosecution doctrine, where petitioner openly expressed his intention to violate, for religious purposes, a criminal statute which the government has openly declared its intent to enforce.

  2. How are courts to determine whether a particular religious belief/practice qualifies for protection under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, and by extension, the First Amendment—an issue dealt with differently by different circuits.

Counsel of record

For petitioner
Ben Adam

For respondent
Noel John Francisco
Jones Day

Case

Conference history
Distributed for 1 conference

Proceedings

  1. Feb 24 2020
    Petition DENIED.
  2. Jan 29 2020
    DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 2/21/2020.
  3. Jan 21 2020
    Waiver of right of respondents Barr, Att'y Gen., et al. to respond filed.
  4. Dec 18 2019
    Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due January 27, 2020)