Last week the Department of Justice filed suit against the Township of Jackson, New Jersey alleging that it has violated
RLUIPA by using its zoning ordinances to target the Orthodox Jewish community. The Township banned schools (including religious schools) in certain zoning districts and banned dormitories throughout the township so that boarding schools cannot operate. The complaint (
full text) in
United States v. Township of Jackson, (D NJ, filed 5/20/2020), alleges in part:
The 2017 Ordinances were enacted in response to the growth of the Orthodox community and the complaints Township officials received from residents about the Orthodox community....
Hostility toward the Orthodox community by Township officials and residents in Jackson has continued since the enactments of Ordinances 03-17 and 04-17 to the present time.
The Department of Justice issued a
press release announcing the filing of the lawsuit.
