The Colorado Supreme Court dismissed a lawsuit against Jack Phillips, owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop, who had refused to create a custom cake for a transgender woman celebrating her transition on Tuesday, October 8th. Phillips, a Christian baker, has faced ongoing legal battles for over a decade after refusing to make cakes that conflicted with his religious beliefs, including a notable case in 2012 involving a same-sex wedding cake, which reached the United States Supreme Court.
The lawsuit was brought by attorney Autumn Scardina, who is transgender, in 2017 after Phillips declined her request for a pink-and-blue cake. The Colorado Supreme Court dismissed the case on procedural grounds, ruling that Scardina had not exhausted all administrative remedies before filing the lawsuit in district court. The court did not make a determination on the merits of the case.
Phillips’ attorney, Jake Warner of the Alliance Defending Freedom, expressed relief, stating that Phillips has been unfairly targeted and harassed for years due to his religious beliefs. Warner emphasized that free speech protects Phillips from being compelled to create messages he disagrees with. Although the ruling did not address the free-speech argument directly, recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions, such as 303 Creative v. Elenis, have bolstered protections for creative professionals like Phillips.
Scardina’s attorney criticized the ruling, accusing the court of inventing an argument to avoid addressing the case’s central issues. Despite this setback, Scardina’s legal team may consider further action.
Phillips’ legal battles have sparked a national debate over the balance between religious freedom and anti-discrimination laws. While Phillips has won previous cases, the controversy over his refusal to create custom cakes based on his beliefs continues to highlight tensions in the legal and cultural spheres.
