Plain-English summary
Court says RFRA permits money damages against individual federal employees
In Tanzin v. Tanvir (Decided Dec. 10, 2020), the Supreme Court held that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) allows plaintiffs to sue individual federal officials for money damages when those officials substantially burden the plaintiffs’ religious exercise. The Court affirmed the Second Circuit judgment.
Why this matters
The decision makes clear that people can seek compensation from federal officials (not just injunctive relief or suits against the government) when those officials substantially burden religious exercise in violation of RFRA. That expands practical remedies available to individuals whose religious rights are violated by federal employees and can affect how the government responds to and defends such claims.
Who may feel it
- Individuals who claim federal officials violated their religious freedom
- Federal employees sued in their individual capacities
- Civil-rights and religious-liberty lawyers and organizations
- Federal agencies and the Department of Justice defending RFRA claims
Key questions
- Does RFRA permit suits seeking money damages against individual federal employees? (Yes.)
- What remedies does RFRA’s express remedies provision provide for violations of the Act? (It permits appropriate relief, including money damages against individual federal officials.)