The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals yesterday heard oral arguments (video of full oral arguments) in Bates v. Pakseresht. In the case, an Oregon federal district court rejected plaintiff's free exercise and free speech challenges to the state's denial of her application to be certified to adopt children through the Oregon Department of Human Services. Plaintiff was denied certification because, consistent with her Christian religious beliefs, she would not agree in advance to support an adoptive child's sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. (See prior posting.) Oregon Capital Chronicle reports on the oral arguments.
