The Becket Fund FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY

Statements Regarding Hobby Lobby

Hobby Lobby Statement
For Immediate Release: January 10, 2013

“Following Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s decision on December 26th denying Hobby Lobby temporary relief from the HHS mandate to provide abortion-causing drugs as part of its healthcare plan, the company faced exposure to penalties beginning January 1.  Subsequently, Hobby Lobby discovered a way to shift the plan year for its employee health insurance, thus postponing the effective date of the mandate for several months.  Hobby Lobby does not provide coverage for abortion-inducing drugs in its healthcare plan. Hobby Lobby will continue to vigorously defend its religious liberty and oppose the mandate and any penalties.” — Peter M. Dobelbower, General Counsel – Vice President, Legal, Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. 

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Statement Regarding Sotomayor Opinion
For Immediate Release: December 27, 2012

“Hobby Lobby will continue their appeal before the Tenth Circuit. The Supreme Court merely decided not to get involved in the case at this time. It left open the possibility of review after their appeal is completed in the Tenth Circuit. The company will continue to provide health insurance to all qualified employees. To remain true to their faith, it is not their intention, as a company, to pay for abortion-inducing drugs.” — Kyle Duncan, General Counsel, The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty

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Additional Information:

Hobby Lobby Resources:

• Hobby Lobby Fact Sheet
• Hobby Lobby Case Page (images, background, legal docs, press releases, news coverage and more)
• HHS Information Central (all 42 HHS mandate cases, legal documents, resources, and interactive map)

Legal Documents:

• Supreme Court:
  • Justice Sotomayor Opinion (December 27, 2012)
  • Emergency Application for Relief before US Supreme Court (December 21, 2012)
• 10^th Circuit Court Documents:
  • 10^th Circuit Opinion (December 20, 2012)
  • Becket Fund’s Request for Preliminary Injunction (November 21, 2012)
• District Court Documents:
  • Judge Joe Heaton Opinion (November 19, 2012)
  • Becket Fund’s Reply in Support of Preliminary Injunction (October 29, 2012)
  • DOJ Responds to Hobby Lobby’s Request for Preliminary Injunction (October 22, 2012)
  • Request for Preliminary Injunction (September 12, 2012)
  • Complaint (September 12, 2012)

Previous Press Releases:

• Hobby Lobby forced to ask Supreme Court to halt abortion drug mandate (December 20, 2012)
• Hobby Lobby Only Business Denied Protection (November 29, 2012)
• Hobby Lobby Seeks Emergency Relief from 10^th Circuit (November 21, 2012)
• Federal Court: Hobby Lobby must violate faith and pay for abortion-pills (November 19, 2012)
• Hobby Lobby: Government Can’t Strip Business Owners of Religious Liberty (October 29, 2012)
• Hobby Lobby responds to DOJ brief against religious freedom (October 24, 2012) 
• Hobby Lobby Sues Over HHS Mandate (September 12, 2012)
  • David Green’s Press Statement (September 12, 2012)
  • Recording of Press Call (September 12, 2012, 11:30am EST with David Green and Kyle Duncan)