Groff v. DeJoy (2023)

Groff v. DeJoy was a SCOTUS in the Classroom case. It was decided on June 29, 2023.

Each term Street Law selects the most classroom-relevant, student-friendly cases as our SCOTUS in the Classroom cases. Teachers are encouraged to conduct moot courts the same week the case is argued, giving students the opportunity to follow discussion and analysis in the news and listen to or read a transcript of the actual oral arguments.

Case Issues:

1. Should the Supreme Court overturn the “more than de minimis cost” test for refusing Title VII religious accommodations stated in Trans World Airlines, Inc. v. Hardison?
2. May an employer demonstrate “undue hardship on the conduct of the employer’s business” under Title VII by showing that the requested accommodation burdens the employee’s co-workers rather than the business itself?

Case Briefs:

• Brief of Petitioner: Groff
• Brief of Respondent: DeJoy/U.S. Postal Service

Oral Argument:

• Audio recording and transcript of the oral argument from the Supreme Court

Decision:

• Link to the opinion of the Court

News Articles and Resources:

• SCOTUSblog: “Pressure rises to reconsider decades-old ruling on religion at work” (September 9, 2022);
• ABA Journal: “Supreme Court considers Title VII accommodation for Christian postal worker who wouldn’t work on Sundays” (January 17, 2023)
• Federal News Network: “Working Sundays at USPS? Former mail carrier tells SCOTUS that’s against his religion” (February 24, 2023)
• Catholic News Agency: “Supreme Court set to hear case of postal worker who refused to work on Sundays” (January 17, 2023)