After the case went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, on January 30 a federal district court denied dueling motions for summary judgment filed by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, the U.S. Postal Service, and former Postal Service employee Gerald Groff regarding an alleged failure to reasonably accommodate Mr. Groff’s inability to work on Sundays because of his religious beliefs.
Many federal courts no longer hold oral argument on motions for summary judgment. However, oral argument was held in this case, and it was even “live streamed” to various news organizations, reflecting the importance of the case to employers, employees, and religious organizations.
Because neither side won summary judgment, the case is headed for a jury trial unless the parties settle.
I do not purport to know how the trial will unfold. Nonetheless, the transcript from the “lived streamed” argument provides some clues.
