Religious liberty group pens brief to Supreme Court backing Orthodox Jew suing for right to host prayer in his home

The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty has filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court supporting Daniel Grand, an Orthodox Jewish man from University Heights, Ohio. Grand is suing the city over its requirement that he obtain a special use permit to host a Shabbat minyan (prayer quorum) in his home, arguing this violates his religious freedom. Joseph Davis, senior counsel at Becket, stated, "Religious freedom is an empty promise when Americans can’t get their day in court." The brief contends that Grand should not have to complete the local permitting process before challenging the restriction in court, citing the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), which aims to prevent such burdens on religious exercise. Grand began hosting minyans in 2021, received a cease-and-desist letter, and subsequently sued the city after withdrawing his permit application. Oral arguments for the case are scheduled for December 9.