The Sixth Circuit ruled Friday in favor of Christian graduate student Julea Ward, who nearly three years ago was expelled from Eastern Michigan University’s counseling program for trying to have a homosexual client reassigned to someone else because of her religious beliefs.
- (Photo: Alliance Defense Fund)
The Sixth Circuit ruled Friday in favor of Christian graduate student, Julea Ward, who nearly three years ago was expelled from Eastern Michigan University’s counseling program for trying to have a homosexual client reassigned to someone else because of her religious beliefs, Jan. 27, 2012.
The court decision was hailed by the Alliance Defense Fund and the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty – groups representing Ward – as a major victory for the constitutional rights of individuals with religious beliefs.
The Sixth Circuit opinion was strongly worded, reversing a district court decision in favor of the university and sending the case back for trial, ADF explained in a statement released by the Christian lawyers group shortly after the ruling. The appeals court said, “A reasonable jury could conclude that Ward’s professors ejected her from the counseling program because of hostility toward her speech and faith….”
“Public universities should not force students to violate their religious beliefs to get a degree. The court rightly understood this and ruled appropriately,” said ADF Legal Counsel Jeremy Tedesco, who argued before the court in October of last year.
“Rather than allow Julea to refer a potential client to another qualified counselor – a common, professional practice to best serve clients – EMU attacked and questioned Julea’s religious beliefs and ultimately expelled her from the program because of them.”
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