"Alito Condemns Exclusion of Jurors Opposed to Homosexuality"

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito criticized a judge's dismissal of potential jurors in a workplace discrimination case, citing his previous warnings about the consequences of the 2015 ruling guaranteeing a right to same-sex marriage. Alito expressed concern that Americans would be labeled as bigots for holding traditional religious beliefs about homosexuality, despite the court's admonition against using the decision in that way. While Alito agreed with rejecting the appeal due to other factors, he criticized the trial judge's decision to dismiss jurors based on their religious beliefs. The case involved a workplace bias lawsuit against the Missouri Department of Corrections by a lesbian employee, and although Alito reluctantly agreed to deny the appeal, he expressed concern about protecting jurors from religious discrimination in the jury box.