Christian Web Designer Wins $1.5M In Landmark Case
Colorado has agreed to pay more than $1.5 million to settle a legal dispute with Lorie Smith, the owner of 303 Creative, after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in her favor. Smith, a Christian business owner, challenged the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act, arguing that it would force her to create wedding websites that went against her religious beliefs about marriage. In June 2023, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in her favor, stating that the government could not compel her to express messages that conflicted with her faith. The case became a significant legal victory for free speech and religious freedom.
Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), the legal group that represented Smith, announced the settlement, which includes the $1.5 million payment. ADF President Kristen Waggoner emphasized that the settlement reinforced the principle that the government cannot force individuals to express beliefs they do not hold. She also reiterated that freedom of speech is a core constitutional right, essential for a society that values self-governance and individual liberty.
The legal battle began in 2016 when Smith preemptively challenged the Colorado law, fearing it would compel her to design websites for same-sex weddings, which contradicted her belief that marriage should only be between a man and a woman. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit ruled against her in 2021, but the Supreme Court ultimately sided with Smith. Justice Neil Gorsuch, writing for the majority, argued that public accommodation laws could not override the First Amendment, which protects individuals from being forced to express messages they disagree with.
In the majority opinion, Gorsuch argued that Colorado’s law would set a dangerous precedent by allowing the government to force anyone who provides a service for pay to accept commissions that conflict with their personal beliefs. He stressed that this would extend beyond wedding services, citing a hypothetical scenario where a same-sex married designer could be forced to create websites advocating against same-sex marriage. The ruling upheld the right to free expression as a fundamental constitutional liberty.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor dissented, arguing that the ruling gave businesses the constitutional right to refuse service based on a protected class, which she believed undermined anti-discrimination laws. She maintained that Colorado’s law targeted discriminatory conduct, not speech, and that discrimination in commerce should not be shielded under the First Amendment. Despite this, the majority’s decision stands as a clear defense of religious freedom and free speech rights for business owners.