Judge denies challenge to Indiana religious objection limits
INDIANAPOLIS, IN โ An Indiana judge has canceled a trial challenging limits on the stateโs religious objections law, finding conservative groups failed to prove they were harmed by changes the Republican-dominated Legislature approved shortly after then-Gov. Their lawsuit challenged changes to a 2015 law prohibiting any government actions that โsubstantially burdenโ a personโs ability to follow his or her religious beliefs. The Indiana Family Institute, Indiana Family Action and the American Family Association of Indiana had argued the changes threatened to hinder their ability to speak out against same-sex marriages and expose them to claims of discrimination in hiring. Micah Clark, the American Family Association of Indianaโs executive director, said he was disappointed the judge didnโt take up the constitutional freedom of speech arguments made in the lawsuit. The religious groupsโ attorney, James Bopp, argued during an October hearing that they were subject to โgrotesque strippingโ of their religious rights by the Legislature.