Republicans urge Supreme Court to overturn ruling blocking Orthodox Jew's home prayer lawsuit
Over 50 Republican lawmakers filed an amicus brief asking the Supreme Court to reverse a lower-court decision that barred Daniel Grand, an Orthodox Jew, from suing his city over a denied home prayer permit.
More than fifty Republican lawmakers have filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court, seeking reversal of a lower-court order that prevented Daniel Grand, an observant Orthodox Jew, from suing his municipality over a denied permit for a home prayer gathering. The brief contends that the district court improperly required Grand to finish the city’s zoning process before pursuing legal action, a step the brief says conflicts with the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act.
Grand had invited friends for a minyan in January 2021, but city officials issued a cease-and-desist demanding a permit that would designate his residence as a place of religious assembly; he later withdrew the application after facing neighbor opposition. Republican signatories such as House Speaker Mike Johnson, House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, and Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley argue the decision imposes an undue burden on religious exercise and could set a precedent limiting local zoning authority.
The Supreme Court agreed to hear the case in its upcoming term beginning in October, with a decision expected before July 2027. A ruling in Grand’s favor could broaden the ability of houses of worship to challenge restrictive zoning laws.
Why it matters
The case could reshape how local zoning rules affect religious gatherings across the United States.
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