City of Bloomfield v. Felix

The City of Bloomfield, New Mexico allowed private citizens to pay for, and erect monuments on the City Hall lawn. Several monuments were placed on the lawn, including a display of the Ten Commandments. Two residents filed suit, charging that the display violated the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause. The lower court held that the display was unconstitutional.

The City of Bloomfield appealed the case to the United States Supreme Court. In August 2017, the Jewish Coalition for Religious Liberty filed an in support of Bloomfield’s appeal. We explained that the court’s decision stigmatized the Ten Commandments, and erased a Jewish contribution to the United States. Further, the court’s analysis harms religious minorities. Finally, allowing offended observers to bring such claims could discourage government from accommodating religious minorities. The Supreme Court declined to hear this case.

The full brief is available for download here.