Federal Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Challenging President Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission

A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit by an interfaith group challenging the legitimacy of President Donald Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission. The lawsuit claimed the commission’s makeup, heavily composed of conservative Christians, lacked a legally required balance of viewpoints.

Judge John P. Cronan ruled that while federal law mandates advisory commissions to have a balance of viewpoints, it does not specify how this should be achieved. The judge noted that the president holds significant discretion when selecting members.

The lawsuit involved plaintiffs such as the Interfaith Alliance along with Hindu, Muslim, and Sikh groups. They argued the commission was predominantly conservative Christian, with only one Orthodox Jewish member. Critics were concerned as the commission’s draft report in June questioned the separation of church and state, advocating instead for creating “bridges” between them.

Cronan stated that the lawsuit seeking a more diverse commission in ideology and religion did not meet legal criteria to proceed. He highlighted that the commission was varied in other aspects, including representation of clergy and laypeople. The judge identified members from five different religions, including Jewish and Christian denominations.

The Interfaith Alliance contended that the commission’s focus prioritized religious rights over minority civil rights. Cronan countered that since Trump’s executive order establishing the commission did not view religious liberty as opposing civil rights, there was no obligation to appoint dissenting members.

The Alliance continues to criticize the commission and its draft report for neglecting issues such as anti-Muslim incidents and supporting policies that favor certain religious groups.