Cert. Denied In Ministerial Exception Case

The U.S. Supreme Court yesterday denied certiorari in Linklater v. Prince of Peace Lutheran Church (Docket No. 11-793) and its companion case Prince of Peace Lutheran Church v. Linklater (Docket No. 11-923), cert. denied 4/16/2012. (Order List.) In the case, Maryland's s highest appellate court, held that the ministerial exception doctrine did not bar a state law sexual harassment claim by a former music director of a church.  The church did not claim that there was any doctrinal reason for the alleged harassment, and the congregation's parent body has promulgated a strong policy against sexual harassment. However certain of plaintiff's constructive discharge and breach of contract claims found to be barred by the ministerial exception doctrine. (See prior posting.) The Gaithersburg (MD) Gazette reports on the Supreme Court's denial of review.