The Supreme Court is expected to hear two cases in coming weeks that could determine how far Americans may go in holding government officials accountable for purportedly violating their rights to religious freedom.
While the Constitution and federal law prohibit such violations, the legal system is still working out how Americans may use two laws in particular—the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act and civil rights statute 42 U.S. Code § 1983—for things like financial damages.
In Landor v. Louisiana, which is set for oral argument on Nov. 10, the court is expected to consider whether the former law allows individuals to seek money damages….