Supreme Court of the United States · Official docket →
Missionaries of Saint John the Baptist, Inc. v. Joel Frederic, et ux.
Paid petition · Supreme Court of Kentucky, No. 2024-SC-0006 · judgment December 18, 2025
Before the decision, about 3.1× the 4.1% base rate. The model weighted this up for a circuit split argued in the petition, a petition citing three to ten dissents, and a business petitioner.
Questions presented
Granted limited to question 1 presented by the petition.
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Whether a land-use regulation that prohibits a religious institution from building a religious structure on its own property constitutes a "substantial burden" on religious exercise under the Substantial Burden Provision of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc(a).
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Whether a land-use regulation violates the Equal Terms Provision of RLUIPA, 42 U.S.C.§ 2000cc(b)(1), by imposing express restrictions on religious assemblies or institutions that it does not impose on nonreligious assemblies or institutions.
Counsel of record
For petitioner
John Franklin Bash
Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP
For respondent
Parker Andrew Rider-Longmaid
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
Case
Subject area
First Amendment (estimated from the questions presented, in the Supreme Court Database’s categories)
Conference history
Distributed for 2 conferences
Amicus briefs
16 cert-stage
Order
Miscellaneous order, October 1, 2026 · Certiorari granted
Proceedings
- Oct 01 2026Petition GRANTED limited to Question 1 presented by the petition.
- Sep 02 2026DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 9/28/2026.
- Sep 01 2026Reply of petitioner Missionaries of Saint John The Baptist, Inc. filed. (Distributed)
- Aug 14 2026Brief of respondents Joel Frederic, et ux. in opposition filed.
- Jul 01 2026Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is further extended to and including August 14, 2026.
- Jun 30 2026Motion to extend the time to file a response from July 15, 2026 to August 14, 2026, submitted to The Clerk.
- May 28 2026Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including July 15, 2026.
- May 27 2026Motion to extend the time to file a response from June 15, 2026 to July 15, 2026, submitted to The Clerk.
- May 14 2026Response Requested. (Due June 15, 2026)
- May 12 2026DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 5/28/2026.
- Apr 27 2026Waiver of right of respondents Joel Frederic and Elizabeth Frederic to respond filed.
- Apr 27 2026Brief amicus curiae of American Center for Law and Justice filed.
- Apr 27 2026Brief amicus curiae of Protect the First Foundation filed.
- Apr 27 2026Brief amicus curiae of The Muslim Public Affairs Council filed.
- Apr 27 2026Brief amicus curiae of Association of Christian Schools International filed.
- Apr 27 2026Brief amicus curiae of Coalition For Jewish Values filed.
- Apr 27 2026Brief amicus curiae of National Association of Evangelicals filed.
- Apr 27 2026Brief amici curiae of Kentucky, et al. filed.
- Apr 27 2026Brief amicus curiae of Anash Inc., dba Wyoming Valley Yeshiva filed.
- Apr 27 2026Brief amici curiae of Manhattan Institute, et al. filed.
- Apr 27 2026Brief amicus curiae of Free Exercise Clinic at Yale Law School filed.
- Apr 27 2026Brief amicus curiae of American Hindu Jewish Congress filed.
- Apr 27 2026Brief amicus curiae of Notre Dame Religious Liberty Clinic filed.
- Apr 27 2026Brief amicus curiae of Monsignor Charles M. Mangan filed.
- Apr 27 2026Brief amicus curiae of Sikh Coalition filed.
- Apr 27 2026Brief amicus curiae of The Priory of Saint Albert the Great filed.
- Apr 07 2026Brief amicus curiae of Liberty, Life and Law Foundation filed.
- Mar 18 2026Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due April 27, 2026)