Oral argument before Tenth Circuit panel to be held this morning in the Little Sisters of the Poor mandate challenge

A three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit will hear oral argument this morning in three cases brought by religious nonprofits seeking relief under RFRA and the First Amendment from compliance with the federal government's contraceptives mandate. These three cases are Little Sisters of the Poor v. Burwell, Southern Nazarene University v. Burwell, and Reaching Souls International v. Burwell. The three judges are Judge Scott M. Matheson, Jr., Senior Judge Monroe G. McKay, and Senior Judge Bobby R. Baldock.

Of these three cases, the Little Sisters of the Poor case is probably the highest profile because the Little Sisters' case was only of only two in which religious nonprofits who sought preliminary relief were without it by late afternoon on New Year's Eve 2013. Justice Sotomayor's grant of temporary relief to the Little Sisters that evening , followed by the full Court's provision of such relief a few weeks later, was covered by national press. (The other case was Notre Dame's, but Notre Dame did not seek the same emergency Supreme Court relief that the Little Sisters sought.)

Although the complaint was filed over a year ago, this morning's hearing is the first time that lawyers for the Little Sisters of the Poor (as well as two Christian Brothers entities with whom the Little Sisters offer a health benefits plan) will appear in a courtroom with government lawyers to argue in person. Everything else has been done on paper.

The arguments were originally scheduled for September, but ended up being moved back to today. As the Little Sisters have noted: "December 8th is the feast of the Immaculate Conception, the patroness of the United States and our Congregation’s patroness. Little Sisters around the world renew their vows each year on the feast of the Immaculate. Please be assured of our prayers for you on this beautiful feast day." 

This kind of correspondence is not without precedent. The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Hobby Lobby on March 25, the Feast of the Annunciation. (Admittedly, the Catholic Church does have many feast days.) In any event, even if you can't make it to the Byron White United States Courthouse in Denver this morning, please keep the Little Sisters, Christian Brothers, and their lawyers in your prayers. (If you're Catholic, you can do this while discharging your duty to attend Mass on this holy day of obligation.)