Christian Artist Emilee Carpenter Secures Landmark Agreement Protecting First Amendment Rights
A Christian photographer and blogger in New York has reached a court-approved settlement with state officials, solidifying protections for her First Amendment rights to free speech.
The agreement, stemming from a lawsuit brought by Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) attorneys on behalf of Emilee Carpenter, forbids New York officials from compelling her to create expressive messages inconsistent with her faith and requires the state to pay $225,000 in attorneys’ fees.
The case, Emilee Carpenter Photography v. James, found its way back to the federal district court after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit reconsidered it in light of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in 303 Creative v. Elenis…