No. 25-849
 
Title: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Petitioner
v.
David O'Connell
Docketed: January 15, 2026
Lower Ct: United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
   Case Numbers: (23-7173)
   Decision Date: April 25, 2025
   Rehearing Denied: November 4, 2025
 
Proceedings and Orders
Jan 13 2026 Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due February 17, 2026)
Petition Appendix Certificate of Word Count Proof of Service
Jan 23 2026 Brief amici curiae of Christian Legal Society, et al. filed.
Main Document Proof of Service Certificate of Word Count
Feb 02 2026 Waiver of right of respondent David O'Connell to respond filed.
Main Document
Feb 04 2026 DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 2/20/2026.
Feb 04 2026 Response Requested. (Due March 6, 2026)
Feb 09 2026 Motion to extend the time to file a response from March 6, 2026 to April 3, 2026, submitted to The Clerk.
Main Document
Feb 11 2026 Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including April 3, 2026.
Feb 19 2026 Brief amici curiae of Former Equal Employment Opportunity Commission General Counsel, et al. filed.
Main Document Certificate of Word Count Proof of Service
Feb 20 2026 Brief amicus curiae of Professor Lael Weinberger filed.
Main Document Proof of Service Certificate of Word Count
Mar 04 2026 Brief amici curiae of Four Religious Organizations filed.
Main Document Proof of Service Certificate of Word Count
Mar 05 2026 Amicus brief of State of Missouri and Twenty-Two Other States as Amici Curiae submitted.
Main Document Certificate of Word Count Proof of Service
Mar 06 2026 Amicus brief of The Anglican Church in North America submitted.
Main Document Certificate of Word Count Proof of Service
Mar 06 2026 Amicus brief of The Council for Christian Colleges & Universities, Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, Association of Adventist Colleges and Universities, Association for Biblical Higher Education, International Alliance for Christian Education, Brigham Young University, American Association of Christian Schools, Association of Christian Schools International submitted.
Main Document Certificate of Word Count Proof of Service
Mar 06 2026 Amicus brief of Law & Religion Scholars submitted.
Main Document Certificate of Word Count Proof of Service
Mar 06 2026 Amicus brief of Protect the First Foundation submitted.
Main Document Certificate of Word Count Proof of Service
Mar 06 2026 Amicus brief of Professor Derek T. Muller submitted.
Main Document Certificate of Word Count Proof of Service
Mar 06 2026 Amicus brief of Belmont Abbey College submitted.
Main Document Certificate of Word Count Proof of Service
Mar 06 2026 Amicus brief of J. Reuben Clark Law Society submitted.
Main Document Certificate of Word Count Proof of Service
Mar 06 2026 Amicus brief of Major Religious Organizations and Related Entities submitted.
Main Document Proof of Service Certificate of Word Count
Mar 06 2026 Amicus brief of John H. Garvey submitted.
Main Document Certificate of Word Count Proof of Service
Mar 06 2026 Amicus brief of Aleph Institute submitted.
Main Document Certificate of Word Count Proof of Service
Attorneys
Attorneys for Petitioner
Daniel Howard Blomberg
Counsel of Record
The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty
1919 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Suite 400
Washington, DC 20006

dblomberg@becketfund.org
Ph: 202-955-0095
Party name: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops


Attorneys for Respondent
Gabriel Zachiah Doble
Counsel of Record
Dovel & Luner, LLP
201 Santa Monica Blvd., Ste. 600
Santa Monica, CA 90401

gabe@dovel.com
Ph: (310) 656-7066
Party name: David O'Connell


Other Attorneys
Blaine H. Evanson
Counsel of Record
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
3161 Michelson Dr.
Irvine, CA 92612

bevanson@gibsondunn.com
Ph: 9494513805
Party name: Law & Religion Scholars


Erik S. Jaffe
Counsel of Record
Schaerr | Jaffe LLP
1717 K Street, N.W., Suite 900
Washington, DC 20006

EJAFFE@SCHAERR-JAFFE.COM
Ph: 202-787-1060
Party name: Protect the First Foundation


Sean Marotta
Counsel of Record
Hogan Lovells US LLP
555 Thirteenth Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20004

SEAN.MAROTTA@HOGANLOVELLS.COM
Ph: 2026374881
Party name: The Anglican Church in North America


Matthew Theodore Martens
Counsel of Record
WilmerHale
2100 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20037

MATTHEW.MARTENS@WILMERHALE.COM
Ph: 202-663-6000
Party name: Aleph Institute


Joshua Craig McDaniel
Counsel of Record
Harvard Law School Religious Freedom Clinic
6 Everett Street Suite 5110
Cambridge, MA 02138

jmcdaniel@law.harvard.edu
Ph: 6179981593
Party name: Belmont Abbey College


Christopher George Michel
Counsel of Record
Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP
555 13th Street NW
Suite 600
Washington, DC 20004

CHRISTOPHERMICHEL@QUINNEMANUEL.COM
Ph: +12025388308
Party name: Professor Derek T. Muller


Colter Lawrence Paulson
Counsel of Record
Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP
221 E. Fourth Street, Suite 2900
Cincinnati, OH 45202

colter.paulson@squirepb.com
Ph: 5133611200
Party name: John H. Garvey


Gene Clayton Schaerr
Counsel of Record
Schaerr | Jaffe
1717 K Street NW, Suite 900
Washington, DC 20006

GSCHAERR@SCHAERR-JAFFE.COM
Ph: 202-787-1060
Party name: Major Religious Organizations and Related Entities


Jasjaap Singh Sidhu
Counsel of Record
Horvitz and Levy LLP
3601 West Olive Avenue, 8th Floor
Burbank, CA 91505

jsidhu@horvitzlevy.com
Ph: 8189950800
Party name: J. Reuben Clark Law Society


Ian Seth Speir
Counsel of Record
Covenant Law PLLC
13395 Voyager Pkwy.
#130-732
Colorado Springs, CO 80921

ian@covtlaw.com
Ph: 7194284937
Party name: The Council for Christian Colleges & Universities, Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, Association of Adventist Colleges and Universities, Association for Biblical Higher Education, International Alliance for Christian Education, Brigham Young University, American Association of Christian Schools, Association of Christian Schools International


Erika Lauren Maley
Counsel of Record
Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP
2200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20037

emaley@hunton.com
Ph: 202-955-1858
Party name: Sharon Fast Gustafson and Rachel N. Morrison


Steven T. McFarland
Counsel of Record
Suite 302
8001 Braddock Road
Springfield, VA 22151

smcfarland@clsnet.org
Ph: 7038941087
Party name: Christian Legal Society, Thomas More Society, National Association of Evangelicals, Christian and Missionary Alliance, Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, and Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod


Laura Darien Nammo
Center for Law & Religious Freedom
8001 Braddock Rd. Suite 302
Springfield, VA 22151

laura@clsnet.org
Ph: 7038621819
Party name: Christian Legal Society, Thomas More Society, National Association of Evangelicals, Christian and Missionary Alliance, Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, and Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod


Joel Scott Nolette
Counsel of Record
Wiley Rein LLP
2050 M Street NW
Washington, DC 20036

jnolette@wiley.law
Ph: (202) 719-7000
Party name: Four Religious Organizations


William James Seidleck
Office of Missouri Attorney General
815 Olive Street
Suite #200
St. Louis, MO 63101

william.seidleck@ago.mo.gov
Ph: (573) 301-5359
Party name: State of Missouri and Twenty-Two Other States as Amici Curiae


Aaron Michael Streett
Counsel of Record
Baker Botts, L.L.P.
910 Louisiana Street
Houston, TX 77002

AARON.STREETT@BAKERBOTTS.COM
Ph: 7132291234
Party name: Professor Lael Weinberger