Supreme Court Refuses to Rule on Anti-Gay Florist’s Case – For Now

David Badash
and
 The New Civil Rights Movement
June 25, 2018

The U.S. Supreme Court is refusing to hear the case of Barronelle Stutzman, the owner of Arlene's Flowers, who refused to sell flowers to a same-sex couple for their wedding – for now.

Stutzman, a Washington state florist, was offered multiple opportunities to settle her case by state and local prosecutors but repeatedly refused. One offer was for $1000. At the same time, her attorneys have falsely claimed that by refusing the same-sex couple the elderly florist may lose her business, her home, and her savings. It's a line repeated by many on the right. And it's false.

She is represented by the Alliance Defending Freedom, the same anti-gay hate group that won a narrow ruling at the Supreme Court earlier this month for Colorado baker Jack Phillips.

The Supreme Court referred the case back to the lower court.

Monday morning's Supreme Court order states that it has vacated the Washington Supreme Court's original decision against Stutzman, and ordered the State Supreme Court to further consider the case "in light of" the Masterpiece Cakeshop ruling. That ruling the U.S. Supreme Court made clear was based on animus against the baker, not on discrimination against the same-sex couple.

It's unclear why the US Supreme Court would frame today's order in the manner.

Some legal experts weigh in:

CNN's report:

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