Thai Meditation Association of Alabama v. City of Mobile, Alabama (S.D. Ala.)

Thai Association of Alabama, et al. v. City of Mobile (S.D. Ala.):  On May 7, 2021, the Division filed a Statement of Interest in Support of Neither Party in this RLUIPA case on remand from the Eleventh Circuit.  The Division filed a brief and participated in oral argument in the appeal, arguing that the district court had applied the wrong standard for evaluating RLUIPA substantial burden claims.  The Eleventh Circuit agreed and reversed and remanded for the district court to apply an approach modeled on the decisions of other circuits.  The parties filed cross-motions for summary judgment on April 12, 2021.  The Statement of Interest elaborates on the approaches of the other circuits in evaluating substantial burden, and explains the compelling interest test the court should apply if it finds a substantial burden.