The Napa Legal Podcast

SCOTUS Protects Girls' Sports, Teacher FIRED Over Pronouns, & Michigan Targets Catholic Charities

Welcome to the Napa Legal Podcast, where we discuss religious liberty from the perspective of faith-based nonprofits. In this week's episode, Frank DeVito and Alexa Kawlewski discuss: 1:30: A Catholic Charities serving the Lansing, Michigan area, represented by Alliance Defending Freedom, files suit after the state abruptly revoked its participation in womens' services funding programs, allegedly out of hostility toward its beliefs on abortion and contraception. 15:05: A Montgomery County substitute teacher was denied a religious accommodation and removed from the classroom for refusing to use false pronouns and conceal students' social transitions from their parents. Her cert petition raises key questions under the Free Exercise and Free Speech Clauses, including a circuit split created by the Fourth Circuit. 27:00: The Supreme Court holds that Title IX and the Equal Protection Clause allow states to maintain girls' sports for biological girls, with notable concurrences from Justice Thomas and Justice Gorsuch worth reading. Registration is still open for Napa Legal's annual Nonprofit Summit on July 22 in Napa, California, a one-day formation event for nonprofit leaders, board members, and professionals serving faith-based organizations. Learn more and register at: https://www.napalegalinstitute.org/nonprofit-summit For more about Napa Legal and our work, visit our website here: https://www.napalegalinstitute.org/ For more of the Napa Legal Podcast, visit our site here: https://www.napalegalinstitute.org/the-napa-legal-podcast The Napa Legal Podcast, July 8, 2026 #freedomofreligion #religiousliberty

School District Rejects Parental Opt-Out of LGBT Content (conflicts Mahmoud v Taylor): June 30, 2026

Welcome to the Napa Legal Podcast, where we discuss religious liberty from the perspective of faith-based nonprofits. In this week's episode, Frank DeVito and Alexa Kawlewski discuss an effort by a California school district to thwart the US Supreme Court by teaching LGBT materials without parental consent, a recent Supreme Court ruling on RLUIPA regarding prisoners’ rights to sue, and a win in the 9th Circuit by former employees of Alaska Airlines who were terminated for voicing their views on the Equality Act. In this episode, we discuss:1:45 California school district defies a recent Supreme Court ruling requiring schools to notify parents when material that contradicts their faith is taught in the classroom. 15:54 Prison guards will not be held liable in their individual capacity for shaving an inmate’s head despite his religious beliefs. 27:52 Airline flight attendants in a religious discrimination case win appeal at the 9th Circuit. For more about Napa Legal and our work, visit our website here:https://www.napalegalinstitute.org/For more of the Napa Legal Podcast, visit our site here:https://www.napalegalinstitute.org/the-napa-legal-podcastThe Napa Legal Podcast, June 30, 2026#freedomofreligion #religiousliberty

Church Can't Host Religious Services and Activities at Newly Acquired Church Building: June 25, 2026

Welcome to the Napa Legal Podcast, where we discuss religious liberty from the perspective of faith-based nonprofits. In this week's episode, Frank DeVito and Alexa Kawlewski discuss a Michigan township refusing to let a newly acquired church operate, a New Jersey Christian addiction recovery ministry fighting a series of administrative and zoning battles, and an eminent domain dispute between the federal government and the Diocese of Las Cruces, New Mexico. In this episode, we discuss:1:48 Township of Windsor, Michigan, refuses to allow a church to host religious services and related activities at a newly acquired church building. 15:20 A New Jersey-based addiction and recovery ministry faces multiple roadblocks from local township authorities, resulting in hefty fines. 29:48 Judge allows federal government to deposit money to acquire a large parcel of land from the New Mexico Diocese of Las Cruces via eminent domain. For more about Napa Legal and our work, visit our website here:https://www.napalegalinstitute.org/For more of the Napa Legal Podcast, visit our site here:https://www.napalegalinstitute.org/the-napa-legal-podcastThe Napa Legal Podcast, June 25, 2026#freedomofreligion #religiousliberty

Compelled Speech, Pro-Abortion Legislation, and Boys Wrestling Girls: June 17, 2026

Welcome to the Napa Legal Podcast, where we discuss religious liberty from the perspective of faith-based nonprofits. In this week's episode, Frank DeVito and Alexa Kawlewski discuss an appeal of a Colorado law that censors and compels speech regarding so-called gender identity, a lawsuit in Michigan concerning yet another attempt to smuggle abortion into protection against sex-based discrimination, and a new lawsuit in Washington state concerning an alleged sexual assault as a result of a boy playing girls sports. In this episode, we discuss:1:59 Apparel company and Christian bookstore in Colorado file appeal in the 10th Circuit to stop compelled speech. 10:58 Two Michigan prolife groups seek an order blocking a law that would require them to hire and retain employees opposed to the mission of the prolife groups. 19:17 Washington state’s policies led to a high school girl allegedly being sexually assaulted during a wrestling match with a boy who identifies as female. For more about Napa Legal and our work, visit our website here:https://www.napalegalinstitute.org/For more of the Napa Legal Podcast, visit our site here:https://www.napalegalinstitute.org/the-napa-legal-podcastThe Napa Legal Podcast, June 17, 2026#freedomofreligion #religiousliberty

Springfield Diocese & Pro-Life Center Appeal Problematic Employment Law to 7th Circuit: June 9, 2026

Welcome to the Napa Legal Podcast, where we discuss religious liberty from the perspective of faith-based nonprofits. In this week's episode, Frank DeVito and Alexa Kawlewski discuss a religious freedom issue regarding employment discrimination law in Illinois, a California childcare licensing law that interferes with the religious rights of parents, and a lawsuit against the USDA alleging a (spurious) Establishment Clause violation. In this episode, we discuss:2:00 The diocese of Springfield, Illinois and a pro-life center appeal problematic employment law to the 7th Circuit.12:28 California childcare licensing requirements undermine the religious rights of parents. 29:00 U.S. Department of Agriculture sued over an Easter message from Secretary Brooke Rollins. For more about Napa Legal and our work, visit our website here:https://www.napalegalinstitute.org/For more of the Napa Legal Podcast, visit our site here:https://www.napalegalinstitute.org/the-napa-legal-podcastThe Napa Legal Podcast, June 9, 2026#freedomofreligion #religiousliberty