Supreme Court to Weigh Individual Attempts to Enforce Religious Protections

A Rastafarian and a controversial street preacher claim that the government infringed on their rights.

The Supreme Court in Washington on Nov. 5, 2025. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

The Supreme Court is expected to hear two cases in coming weeks that could determine how far Americans may go in holding government officials accountable for purportedly violating their rights to religious freedom.

While the Constitution and federal law prohibit such violations, the legal system is still working out how Americans may use two laws in particular—the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act and 42 U.S. Code, Section 1983—for things such as financial damages.