The Supreme Court will hear a new case involving a website designer’s view on same-sex couples.
According to The Associated Press, the court announced it would hear Lorie Smith’s case. Smith is a website and graphic designer based in Denver, Colorado.
The outlet reported that Smith is interested in expanding her services to weddings, but says her Christian beliefs would require her to decline requests from same-sex couples.
Additionally, Smith wants to post a statement on her website explaining her beliefs. The Associated Press noted Smith’s actions would go against a Colorado anti-discrimination law.
The court said it would only look at the issue of free speech when reviewing the case, as the outlet reported.
“Colorado has weaponized its law to silence speech it disagrees with, to compel speech it approves of, and to punish anyone who dares to dissent,” Smith’s attorney, Kristen Waggoner, said in a statement.
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser told The Associated Press, “Companies cannot turn away LGBT customers just because of who they are.”
He added, “We will vigorously defend Colorado’s laws, which protect all Coloradans by preventing discrimination and upholding free speech.”
Last year, a 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals based in Denver denied Smith’s request to overturn a ruling from a lower court throwing away her legal challenge, The Associated Press reported.
The announcement comes just a few years after the court ruled in favor of a baker in Colorado who refused to bake a cake for a same-sex couple.
Kristen Waggoner also represented Jack Phillips.
“Jack serves all customers; he simply declines to express messages or celebrate events that violate his deeply held beliefs,” Waggoner said following the ruling.
She added, “Creative professionals who serve all people should be free to create art consistent with their convictions without the threat of government punishment.”
