By Alliance Defending Freedom DENVER – A federal district court has issued an order that allows Colorado cake artist Jack Phillips to proceed with a lawsuit against the state for its hostility toward him and his religious beliefs. Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys representing Phillips, owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop, filed suit when the state chose to prosecute him again even after he won his case at the U.S. Supreme Court in June. The high court ruled that Colorado cannot treat Phillips differently than other cake artists who decline custom projects based on the messages they convey. “The same agency that the Supreme Court rebuked as hostile to Jack Phillips has remained committed to treating him unequally and forcing him to express messages that violate his religious beliefs,” said ADF Senior Counsel Jim Campbell, who argued before the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado on Dec. 18. “Colorado is acting in bad faith and with bias toward Jack. We look forward to moving forward with this lawsuit to ensure that Jack isn’t forced to create custom cakes that express messages in conflict with his faith.” The district court ruled in Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Elenis that evidence of unequal treatment remains. … [Read more...]