Jack’s legal odyssey began back in 2012, when the Colorado Civil Rights Commission targeted him after he respectfully declined to create a custom cake to celebrate a same-sex wedding.
Years later, in 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 7-2 that the state had indeed targeted him with “clear and impermissible hostility” that violated the First Amendment.
That should have been the end of the story. Yet, almost immediately, the same state government came after him again, this time because he politely declined to create a custom cake celebrating and symbolizing a “gender transition.” After Jack’s ADF team sued the state in federal court, state officials backed off. Again, that should have ended the legal attacks against Jack. But the same attorney who initiated the administrative complaint against Jack—who had requested the “gender transition” cake—decided to double down and sue Jack in state court. Unfortunately, the court, and a subsequent state appeals court, ruled that Jack could indeed be punished for only speaking messages consistent with his beliefs. The courts effectively said that the state or activists could compel an individual to use their creative gifts to promote messages they do not agree with. The message was: if you want to open a business in Colorado, leave your conscience, your beliefs, and your convictions at the door. Jack continued to trust in God’s faithfulness, and he displayed the calm peace and quiet joy that has always inspired us all. He appealed to the Colorado Supreme Court, which heard oral argument in the case on June 18. Please continue to lift up Jack, his family, his legal team, and the judges who heard the case in your prayers. No American should be bullied or banished from the marketplace simply because they cannot express messages they disagree with. But a ruling against Jack threatens to do just that. Jack’s case is crucial, and it is just one of many legal efforts we’re undertaking to make sure free speech is secured for this and future generations. You can take an active role and partner with us with a gift to help defend the right of Jack and every other American to live and speak the truth without fear. And thanks to a $500,000 matching gift, your impact will be DOUBLED, as long as funds remain available! Jack’s been steadfast and courageous for over a decade. Why? Because he knows that his case is about more than just his right to free speech. It’s about YOUR freedom as well. Your freedom to speak and express what YOU believe, without fear that the government will compel or silence your speech. | 