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Podcast on EEOC v. Abercrombie & Fitch

From First Thoughts

At the Center for Law and Religion Forum, my colleague Marc DeGirolami and I have a podcast on last week's oral argument at the Supreme Court in EEOC v. Abercrombie & Fitch. The case involves a claim of employment discrimination by a Muslim job applicant whose headscarf violated Abercrombie's “Look Policy.” Marc and I discuss the legal issues and the implications for religious accommodations generally, and predict the ultimate outcome of the case. You can listen to the podcast hereContinue Reading »

Vaccination, the Nones, and Hobby Lobby

From First Thoughts

Measles is back. In recent weeks, an outbreak that originated in Southern California has spread across the nation. Public health officials seem confident the outbreak is explained, in large part, by the fact that significant numbers of parents no longer have their children vaccinated. These parents rely on exemptions that state laws, like California’s, provide for parents who object to mandatory vaccination programs. Perhaps surprisingly, the resistance is disproportionately high in wealthier, better educated, bluer neighborhoods, the sort of communities that pride themselves on their enlightened, progressive outlook. Continue Reading »

What’s Happening in Argentina?

From First Thoughts

I confess I don’t follow Argentine politics. So when an Argentine friend posted the message “Yo Soy Nisman” on her Facebook page this week, I didn’t get the reference. I asked her about it, and she directed me to several news items on the death Sunday of an Argentine prosecutor, Alberto Nisman, who was about to testify about an alleged deal to immunize the perpetrators of one of the worst anti-Semitic attacks in recent history. It is an astonishing story. Continue Reading »