October Term 2022 · Docket 22-174
Does Title VII require employers to grant religious accommodations unless they face significant business costs?
The dispute centers on whether a minor inconvenience to an employer blocks a religious accommodation under federal law.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official Court opinion was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Aaron Streett argued that the current standard violates the statute's promise.
He stated that employees should not choose between faith and jobs.
He argued that the government does not defend the current test's rationale.
Elizabeth Prelogar argued that courts have applied the current standard for fifty years.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 11-31 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 11-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 39-51 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 39-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 55-13 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 55-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-29 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 7-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 37-15 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 37-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 120, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 120, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 37-49 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 37-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 7-25 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 7-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 29-7 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 29-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 7-45 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 7-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 43-39 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 43-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 25-45 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 25-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 17-31
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the legal standard for religious accommodations in the workplace. the side that brought the case argues the current standard is too weak. the opposing side argues the current standard provides necessary stability.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 120, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 120, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 37-49 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 37-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 27-33
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 18, 2023.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 43-45
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants the Court to replace the current standard with a stricter one.
the opposing side wants the Court to keep the current standard intact.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 120, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 120, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 37-49 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 37-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 27-33
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues the current standard forces employees to choose between faith and work.
the opposing side argues the current standard has guided courts for fifty years.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 120, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 120, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 37-49 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 37-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 27-33
What the justices asked
Justice Thomas asked whether the original case considered the current statute.
Justice Sotomayor asked if the side that brought the case concedes that violating a union contract is a burden.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 11-31 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 11-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 39-51 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 39-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 55-13 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 55-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-29 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 7-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 37-15 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 37-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 7-25 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 7-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 29-7 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 29-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 7-45 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 7-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 43-39 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 43-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 25-45 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 25-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 17-31
Why it matters
This case defines the cost threshold for religious accommodations. It affects how employers manage schedules and union agreements. It determines the balance between employee faith and business operations.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 120, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 120, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 37-49 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 37-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 27-33
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 11-31 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 11-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 39-51 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 39-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 55-13 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 55-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-29 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 7-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 37-15 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 37-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 7-25 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 7-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 29-7 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 29-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 7-45 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 7-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 43-39 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 43-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 25-45 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 25-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 17-31
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Verified official opinions and orders
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 120, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 120, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 37-49 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 37-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 120, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 120, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 37-49 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 37-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 27-33
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.