
Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission
What's at Stake
Whether a business open to the public has a constitutional right to discriminate.
Summary
David Mullins and Charlie Craig visited Masterpiece Cakeshop in July 2012, with Charlie’s mother, to order a cake for their upcoming wedding reception. Dave and Charlie planned to marry in Massachusetts and then celebrate with family and friends back home in Colorado. But bakery owner Jack Phillips informed them that the bakery wouldn’t sell wedding cakes to same-sex couples.
Longstanding Colorado state law prohibits public accommodations, including businesses open to the public such as Masterpiece Cakeshop, from refusing service based on characteristics like race, religion, or sexual orientation. Dave and Charlie filed complaints with the Colorado Civil Rights Division contending that the bakery violated Colorado’s Anti-Discrimination Act. Following an investigation and hearings, the Colorado Civil Rights Commission determined that the bakery illegally discriminated against Dave and Charlie when it refused them service.
On August 13, 2015, the Colorado Court of Appeals unanimously affirmed the Commission’s order, finding that the bakery discriminated because of sexual orientation in violation of state law. The court also concluded that application of Colorado’s Anti-Discrimination Act did not infringe the bakery’s freedom of speech or free exercise of religion. The Colorado Supreme Court denied review, and the United States Supreme Court granted certiorari on June 26, 2017.
Update (6/2/18): The Supreme Court reversed the decision in Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, based on concerns specific to the case.
Legal Documents
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06/02/2014
Craig and Mullins v. Masterpiece Cakeshop - Commission's Final Order -
05/02/2014
Craig and Mullins v. Masterpiece Cakeshop - Complainants' Opposition to Respondents' Appeal -
12/06/2013
Craig and Mullins v. Masterpiece CakeShop - Decision -
11/12/2013
Craig and Mullins v. Masterpiece Cakeshop - Complainants’ Response in Opposition to Respondents’ Cross Motion for Summary Judgment
Date Filed: 06/02/2014
Court: Colorado Court of Appeals
Date Filed: 05/02/2014
Court: Colorado Court of Appeals
Date Filed: 12/06/2013
Court: Colorado Court of Appeals
Date Filed: 11/12/2013
Court: Colorado Court of Appeals
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02/13/2015
Craig and Mullins v. Masterpiece Cakeshop - Amicus Brief of Americans United for Separation of Church and State
Date Filed: 02/13/2015
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02/13/2015
Craig and Mullins v. Masterpiece Cakeshop - Amicus Brief of the National Center for Lesbian Rights
Date Filed: 02/13/2015
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02/13/2015
Craig and Mullins v. Masterpiece Cakeshop - Amicus Brief of the Anti-Defamation League and Other Civil Rights Groups
Date Filed: 02/13/2015
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02/13/2015
Craig and Mullins v. Masterpiece Cakeshop - Amicus Brief of Main Street Alliance
Date Filed: 02/13/2015
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02/13/2015
Craig and Mullins v. Masterpiece Cakeshop - Amicus Brief of the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund
Date Filed: 02/13/2015
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02/13/2015
Craig and Mullins v. Masterpiece Cakeshop - Amicus Brief of Lambda Legal
Date Filed: 02/13/2015
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08/13/2015
Craig v Masterpiece Opinion -
03/31/2015
Craig and Mullins v. Masterpiece Cakeshop - Appellants' Reply Brief -
02/13/2015
Amicus Briefs in Support of Craig and Mullins -
- Americans United for Separation of Church and State
- The National Center for Lesbian Rights
- The Anti-Defamation League and Other Civil Rights Groups
- Main Street Alliance
- The NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund
- Lambda Legal
Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights CommissionLegal DocumentsAmericans United for Separation of Church and StateDownload DocumentDate Filed: 02/13/2015
Court: Supreme Court (Colo.)
Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights CommissionLegal DocumentsThe National Center for Lesbian RightsDownload DocumentDate Filed: 02/13/2015
Court: Supreme Court (Colo.)
Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights CommissionLegal DocumentsThe Anti-Defamation League and Other Civil Rights GroupsDownload DocumentDate Filed: 02/13/2015
Court: Supreme Court (Colo.)
Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights CommissionLegal DocumentsMain Street AllianceDownload DocumentDate Filed: 02/13/2015
Court: Supreme Court (Colo.)
Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights CommissionLegal DocumentsThe NAACP Legal Defense and Education FundDownload DocumentDate Filed: 02/13/2015
Court: Supreme Court (Colo.)
Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights CommissionLegal DocumentsLambda LegalDownload DocumentDate Filed: 02/13/2015
Court: Supreme Court (Colo.)
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02/13/2015
Craig and Mullins v. Masterpiece Cakeshop - Colorado Civil Rights Commission Answer Brief -
02/13/2015
Craig and Mullins v. Masterpiece Cakeshop - Appellees' Answer Brief -
01/09/2015
Craig and Mullins v. Masterpiece Cakeshop - Appellants' Opening Brief
Date Filed: 08/13/2015
Court: Supreme Court (Colo.)
Date Filed: 03/31/2015
Court: Supreme Court (Colo.)
Date Filed: 02/13/2015
Court: Supreme Court (Colo.)
Date Filed: 02/13/2015
Court: Supreme Court (Colo.)
Date Filed: 01/09/2015
Court: Supreme Court (Colo.)
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11/13/2015
Craig and Mullins v. Masterpiece Cakeshop - Petitioner's Reply Brief in Support of Certiorari -
11/06/2015
Craig and Mullins v. Masterpiece Cakeshop - Respondents' Brief in Opposition to Petition for Certiorari -
11/06/2015
Craig and Mullins v. Masterpiece Cakeshop - Colorado Civil Rights Commission's Brief in Opposition to Petition for Certiorari -
10/23/2015
Craig and Mullins v. Masterpiece Cakeshop - Petitioner's Appendix -
10/23/2015
Craig and Mullins v. Masterpiece Cakeshop - Petitioner's Petition for Certiorari
Date Filed: 11/13/2015
Date Filed: 11/06/2015
Date Filed: 11/06/2015
Date Filed: 10/23/2015
Date Filed: 10/23/2015
Press Releases
Supreme Court Upholds Basic Principles of Nondiscrimination, Reverses Colorado Civil Rights Commission Decision
Supreme Court Hears Arguments in Case That Will Decide the Future of Anti-Discrimination Law
Civil Rights Champions Call for a Decision for Equal Dignity under Law at the Supreme Court
Business, Civil Rights, and Legal Voices File Briefs in Supreme Court, Defending Rights of Same-Sex Couple Discriminated Against by Business
ACLU Comment on Justice Department Position in Masterpiece Cakeshop SCOTUS Case
Supreme Court Will Hear ACLU Case About Cake Shop Refusing Service to Same-Sex Couple