After both a trial court and an appeals court ruled against him, Phillips appealed and is being represented by the religious freedom law firm Alliance Defending Freedom.
With Colorado’s Supreme Court taking up the appeal, Phillips, a Christian, will be arguing to the state judiciary’s highest officials that declining to create custom cakes that express messages he considers objectionable is an exercise of his freedom of religion.
Who is Jack Phillips?
A skilled artist, Phillips opened his company Masterpiece Cakeshop in Lakewood, Colorado, in 1993.
Phillips and his wife, Debi, who is co-owner of the shop, both rediscovered their Christian faith as adults and prioritize their relationship with Christ. Part of that means that they choose not to create cakes that violate their consciences.
The baker has said that in the past, he’s declined to make a variety of types of cakes, including ones for Halloween, divorce, and cakes with disparaging messages.