Today, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a ruling in ADF’s case involving Julea Ward, a student Eastern Michigan University expelled from its graduate counseling program because of her religious beliefs.  The court reversed the lower court’s ruling against Julea, finding that “a reasonable jury could conclude that Ward’s professors ejected her from the counseling program because of hostility toward her speech and faith.”

Striking at the very heart of Ms. Ward’s lawsuit, the court said that: “A university cannot compel a student to alter or violate her belief systems based on a phantom policy as the price for obtaining a degree.”

We are certainly pleased the court recognized this important First Amendment principle and highlighted many of the facts in the the record showing that this is precisely the demand Eastern Michigan made of Julea.

For more information about the Sixth Circuit’s ruling and other information about this case, please see our press release.

We praise God for this encouraging victory!

Your support can make all the difference

ADF is committed to reclaiming and preserving religious freedom on public university campuses. By God’s grace, and with the prayers and financial support of Christians like you, we will continue our winning record of success—defending the constitutionally protected rights of students, like Julea Ward, to freely live out their faith.