Web designer seeks reimbursement for legal expenses following victory in Supreme Court case on free speech and LGBTQ rights.

A Denver web designer, Lorie Smith, who won a Supreme Court ruling allowing some businesses to refuse services for same-sex weddings, is seeking nearly $2 million in legal fees. Alliance Defending Freedom, who represented Smith, is requesting compensation for over 2,000 hours of work. Smith’s refusal to provide services for same-sex weddings was based on her beliefs against gay marriage. The Supreme Court’s 6-3 ruling in Smith’s favor was considered a significant First Amendment case. Justice Neil Gorsuch stated that forcing Smith to create speech she does not believe in would violate the First Amendment, while the dissenting liberal justices argued that it granted businesses the right to refuse service to protected classes. Alliance Defending Freedom is a faith-based legal advocacy organization involved in religious liberty lawsuits. The case, 303 Creative LLC v. Aubrey Elenis et al, was a lengthy and groundbreaking legal battle against a Colorado anti-discrimination law. Smith’s request for legal fees comes after the Supreme Court’s decision last year, which set a precedent for businesses to refuse services based on free speech rights.

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