Legal

Frankfort, KY—American Atheists today sent a letter to the Kentucky Commissioner of Education reminding him of the state’s obligations under the U.S. Constitution to discuss religion only in an academic context despite the recently enacted “Religious Literacy Law” which allows the teaching of religion and the use of the Bible…...

Washington, DC—Today, in a 7-2 decision, the United States Supreme Court ruled that churches and other houses of worship are entitled to state funding, undermining the foundation of the wall of separation between religion and government....

Cranford, NJ—After President Donald Trump signed an executive order today instructing the IRS to ignore future violations of the prohibition on electoral politicking by churches and religious groups, American Atheists pledged a lawsuit challenging the unconstitutional preference of houses of worship over secular nonprofits, including American Atheists, in the order.…...

Harrisburg, PA—A federal district court today has allowed a lawsuit challenging the discriminatory invocation policy of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to move forward. “We’re pleased the court has decided that this lawsuit can continue,” said Amanda Knief, legal director for American Atheists. “There is no question that this policy…...

Cranford, NJ—Today, after the rules  of the Senate were changed by Republicans to overcome a filibuster, Neil Gorsuch was confirmed as an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court by a vote of 54-45.  American Atheists’ National Legal Director Amanda Knief released the following statement: Since the announcement of…...

Cleveland, OH—American Atheists today filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Eastern Division, alleging that a developmentally disabled child was forcibly baptized against the expressed wishes of his parents by a minister and a court-approved mentor. The child, referred to as “V” in…...

Washington, DC—During the second day of confirmation hearings of Judge Neil Gorsuch’s nomination to the Supreme Court, Delaware Senator Chris Coons entered a letter co-authored by American Atheists and the National Coalition of Jewish Women, and signed by 17 other faith and secular groups, expressing our profound concerns about Gorsuch’s…...

In a letter written by American Atheists and the National Council of Jewish Women, a coalition of 19 faith-based and atheist groups expressed serious concerns regarding the nomination of Judge Neil M. Gorsuch to the United States Supreme Court. The letter was sent to the Chairman and Ranking Member of…...

Cranford, NJ—American Atheists announced today that is has dismissed its lawsuit against the City of Kansas City (Missouri) over a $65,000 grant that the city’s Neighborhoods Tourist Development Fund had awarded in April to Modest Miles Ministries for the 2016 National Baptist Convention in September. American Atheists sued based on…...

Harrisburg, PA—American Atheists joined with Americans United for Separation of Church and State in filing a federal lawsuit today challenging a policy prohibiting atheists from offering invocations to open Pennsylvania House of Representatives sessions. The five individual plaintiffs in the case, including two members of Pennsylvania Nonbelievers, an American Atheists…...

Chattanooga, TN—American Atheists and Bradley County and the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office have reached a settlement in a federal lawsuit alleging First Amendment violations of the U.S. Constitution by Bradley County and Bradley County Sheriff Eric Watson. As part of settlement agreement, the new official Bradley County Sheriff’s Department Facebook…...