Last week (Nov. 20) the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments in Youth 71Five Ministries v. Williams (video of full oral arguments). In the case, the state of Oregon canceled $410,000 in grants to Youth 71Five when the state discovered that the Ministries only hires those that share its faith. This violates of the state's "Certification Rule" that bars grantees from discriminating in their employment practices. An Oregon federal district court denied the Ministries' request for a preliminary injunction. In August 2024, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals issued an injunction pending appeal allowing 71Five to participate in the 2023-25 Oregon Youth Community Investment Grant Program. (See prior posting.) It also ordered an expedited schedule for briefing and arguing the appeal. That is the appeal which the 9th Circuit heard last week. World reports on the decision.
