A Denver-area web designer, Lorie Smith, who won a U.S. Supreme Court ruling allowing businesses to refuse to provide services for same-sex weddings is seeking nearly $2 million in legal fees. The conservative legal organization Alliance Defending Freedom, represented Smith in her fight against a Colorado anti-discrimination law and filed a court document requesting compensation for over 2,000 hours of work on the case. Smith cited her beliefs against gay marriage as justification for refusing to provide custom web design services for same-sex weddings. The Supreme Court’s ruling in favor of Smith was seen as significant for First Amendment rights, with Justice Neil Gorsuch emphasizing the importance of protecting free speech. On the other hand, Justice Sonia Sotomayor and other liberal justices expressed concerns that the ruling gave businesses a constitutional right to refuse service to protected classes. Alliance Defending Freedom is known for its lawsuits related to religious liberty and was also involved in an unsuccessful challenge regarding abortion pills. The case, known as 303 Creative LLC v. Aubrey Elenis et al, was considered groundbreaking and highlighted the ongoing debate between religious freedom and anti-discrimination policies.
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Web designer seeks reimbursement for legal expenses following victory in Supreme Court case promoting free speech and LGBTQ rights
