Wednesday's oral arguments, which stretched for 90 minutes rather than the usual hour, focused on appeals from religious non-profits to the government's requirement that insurance plans include all common types of contraceptives. The government lets them leave that responsibility to their insurance plans, but the groups say that still implicates them in an objectionable process.
Their pleas for relief won vigorous backing from some justices, including Roberts and Samuel Alito, who dominated the questioning in Scalia's noticeable absence. Alito noted the organizations have argued that "this presents an unprecedented threat to religious liberty in this country." Justice Anthony Kennedy, who is likely to decide the case either way, appeared to be against the government as well. "It seems to me that there's a substantial burden" on the religious non-profits, he said.
Read Full Article »