A federal judge in New York City on Monday tossed out a legal challenge to President Trump's Religious Liberty Commission, rejecting arguments that the panel was unlawfully stacked with only Judeo-Christian representatives.
U.S. District Judge John Cronan, a Trump appointee, ruled that the commission did not violate federal requirements for a "fairly balanced" advisory body, despite complaints from a coalition of progressive Muslim, Hindu, and other groups that it excluded non-Judeo-Christian faiths.
In a 49-page opinion, Cronan noted the commission's 14 members include people from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, with varied life experiences—from a former TV host to a state lieutenant governor—and represent at least five different religions. "To the extent that it matters," he wrote, the panel encompasses adherents of those faiths, adding that the law does not demand "perfect" balance.
The commission, which Trump established last year amid his push to address what he calls discrimination against Christians, was tasked with producing a report on the foundations and threats to religious liberty in the United States. A draft released last month advocates for "building bridges between church and state."
The coalition, represented by Democracy Forward—a frequent litigant against Trump administration policies—argued the panel was biased. But Cronan countered that "given the wide diversity of Christian and Jewish beliefs, there is no reason to think that an Evangelical member would 'balance out' a Catholic member any less than a Buddhist member would." He added that if excluding some groups is inevitable on a small commission, plaintiffs did not justify why omitting non-Judeo-Christian faiths is more imbalanced than leaving out certain Christian denominations.
The judge also ruled that an ordained minister who runs an interfaith group and joined the suit lacked legal standing to press his claims.
The commission is chaired by former Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and vice-chaired by Ben Carson, Trump's former Housing and Urban Development secretary. Other members include the Rev. Franklin Graham and New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan.
In a statement, the coalition pointed to the commission's release of transcripts and meeting materials earlier this year as a win. "Even before this decision, our litigation helped uncover the information the Trump-Vance administration attempted to hide from the public about this biased and unlawful body," they said. "Religious liberty and pluralism are foundational American values, and we remain committed to fighting for a democracy that does not promote a single religious belief and ignores others."
The ruling comes as Trump's religious liberty push continues to draw scrutiny, with critics arguing it favors conservative Christian views over broader pluralism. The coalition's statement emphasized that the case "achieved a major goal by forcing greater transparency."
