TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Stacey Shrader Joslin on Dec 11, 2020

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled yesterday that federal officials can be liable for money damages in their individual capacities for violations of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993. The case involves three Muslim men who say they were placed on the no-fly list for refusing to spy on their religious communities. They claim placement on the list cost them money from wasted airline tickets and lost job opportunities. A lower court had rejected the suit arguing the Religious Freedom Restoration Act does not allow monetary relief. The court of appeals reversed the ruling, saying that “appropriate relief” can include a claim for money damages. The Supreme Court affirmed. The ABA Journal has more on the story.