Religion & Antidiscrimination Law
SYLLABUS
WEEK I: INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE
A. Statutory Preambles and Statements of Purpose
1. Federal Statutes
a. 42 U.S.C. §2000a(a) (SS1)
b. 42 U.S.C. §3601 (SS8)
2. State Statutes
a. Alaska Stat. §18.80.210 (SS12)
b. California
i) Cal. Civil Code §51(b) (SS14)
ii) Cal. Gov’t Code §§12920-21 (SS16)
c. Florida
i) Fla. Stat §760.01(2) (SS23)
ii) Fla. Stat §760.08 (SS24)
iii) Fla. Stat §760.21 (SS26)
d. Wisconsin
i) Wisc. Stat. §106.50(1) (SS30)
ii) Wisc. Stat. §111.31 (SS34)
3. Discussion Questions 1-2 (I1)
B. Some Perspectives on Religion
1. Stephen L. Carter, Culture of Disbelief: How American Law and Politics
Trivialize Religious Devotion 40-43 (1993) (I1-3)
2. Stephen M. Feldman, Please Don’t Wish Me a Merry Christmas: A Critical
History of the Separation of Church and State 282-86 (1997) (I3-6)
3. Andrew Koppelman, Antidiscrimination Law & Social Equality 149-53 (1996)
(I6-9)
4. Zadie Smith, On Beauty 330-31 (2005) (I9)
5. Discussion Question 3-4 (I9)
C. Introduction to Key Issues 5 & 6
1. Introduction to Key Issue #5: Exemptions for Religious Organizations (I9-10)
2. Introduction to Key Issue #6: Evaluating Religious Beliefs (I10-11)
3. Discussion Questions 5-6 (I11)
WEEK II: THE STRUCTURE OF ANTIDISCRIMINATION STATUTES
A. Protected Characteristics
1. Introduction (II1)
2. Kramarsky v. Stahl Management (N.Y. Sup. 1977) (II1-2)
3. Civil Rights Act of 1866 (II2-3)
4. Saint Francis College v. Al-Khazraji (U.S. 1987) (II3-6)
5. Shaare Tefila Congregation v. Cobb (U.S. 1987) (II6-7)
B. Operative Provisions (Conduct)
1. Introduction (II7)
2. Sample Statutes List (II7-8) (skim)
3. Note: §3604(c) and Online Advertising (II8-10)
C. Key Definitions
1. Introduction (II10)
2. Sample Statutes List (II10-11) (skim)
D. Statutory Defenses
1. Explicitly Religious Defenses: Explanation and Samples (II11-12)
2. Defenses Arguably Related to Religious Concerns: Explanation and Samples
(II12-13)
3. General Defenses: Explanation and Samples (II13)
E. Introduction to Key Issues
1. Introduction to Key Issue #6:
Expanded)
Evaluating Religious Beliefs (Revisited &
a. Introductory Questions (Repeat from Week One) (II13-14)
b. U.S. v. Meyers, 95 F.3d 1475 (10th Cir. 1996) (II14-21)
c. Discussion Questions 7-8 (II21-22)
2. Introduction to Key Issue #1: Category Issues (II22)
WEEK III: CAUSES OF ACTION UNDER ANTIDISCRIMINATION STATUTES
A. Disparate Treatment
1. Direct Proof
a. Overview (III1)
b. Sorenson v. Raymond, 532 F.2d 496 (5th Cir. 1976) (III1-3)
2. The McDonnell Douglas Burden Shift
a. The Structure of The Burden Shift (III3-5)
b. Justifications for the Burden Shift (III5-6)
c. Asbury v. Brougham, 866 F.2d 1276 (10th Cir. 1989) (III6-9)
3. The Problem of Mixed Motives (III9-10)
B. Disparate Impact
1. Overview (IIII10-11)
2. Griggs v. Duke Power Co., 401 U.S. 424 (1971) (III11-16)
3. Mountain Side Mobile Estates v. Sec’y of H.U.D., 56 F.3d 1243 (10th Cir. 1995)
(III16-19)
C. Harassment
1. Overview (III19-20)
2. Meritor Savings Bank v. Vinson, 477 U.S. 57 (1986) (III20-25)
3. Harris v. Forklift Systems, 510 U.S. 17 (1993) (III25-28)
D. Retaliation (III28-29)
E. Key Issue #2: Belief/Conduct Issues (III29)
WEEK IV: ACCOMMODATION & ESTABLISHMENT
A. Accommodation of Religious Belief Under Title VII
1. TWA v. Hardison, 432 U.S. 63 (1977) (IV 1-13)
2. Ansonia Board of Education v. Philbrook, 479 U.S. 60 (1986) (IV 13-19)
B. Key Issue #3: Accommodations Issues (IV 19-20)
C. Accommodations & Exceptions as Establishment Clause Violations
1. Estate of Thornton v. Caldor, Inc., 472 U.S. 703 (1985) (IV 20-23)
2. Corporation of the Presiding Bishop v. Amos, 483 U.S. 327 (1987) (IV 23-33)
3. Cutter v. Wilkinson, 544 U.S. 709 (2005) (IV 33-40)