{"id":11854,"date":"2024-07-18T17:32:25","date_gmt":"2024-07-18T17:32:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wifamily.news\/?p=11854"},"modified":"2024-07-29T13:06:26","modified_gmt":"2024-07-29T13:06:26","slug":"cernek-v-argyle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wifamily.news\/?p=11854","title":{"rendered":"Cernek V. Argyle"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>This post originally appeared at <a href=\"https:\/\/will-law.org\/cernek-v-argyle\/\">https:\/\/will-law.org\/cernek-v-argyle\/<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"et_pb_section et_pb_section_6 et_section_regular\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_row et_pb_row_6\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_10  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_18  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000\"><strong>Case Name: <\/strong>Cernek\u00a0v. Argyle<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000\"><strong>Type of Case:\u00a0<\/strong>Individual Liberties<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000\"><strong>Court: <\/strong>U.S. District Court, Western Wisconsin<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000\"><strong>Filed On: <\/strong>July 8th, 2024\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000\"><strong>Current Status:<\/strong> WILL filed a complaint on behalf of our client.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"et_pb_row et_pb_row_7\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_11  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_accordion et_pb_accordion_0 et_clickable\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_toggle et_pb_module et_pb_accordion_item et_pb_accordion_item_0 et_clickable  et_pb_toggle_open\">\n<h2 class=\"et_pb_toggle_title\">TEACHER SUES WISCONSIN SCHOOL DISTRICT OVER RELIGION LIBERTY VIOLATION<\/h2>\n<div class=\"et_pb_toggle_content clearfix\">\n<p><strong>July 18, 2024<\/strong> | <span>The Wisconsin Institute for Law &amp; Liberty has filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of Jordan Cernek, a former teacher in the Argyle School District, for violating Mr. Cernek\u2019s Title VII rights, First Amendment right to Free Exercise of his religion, and Article I, Section 18 of the Wisconsin Constitution.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"et_pb_row et_pb_row_8\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_12  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_divider et_pb_divider_0 et_pb_divider_position_ et_pb_space\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_divider_internal\"><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"et_pb_row et_pb_row_9\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_13  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_19  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">\n<p><strong>The News:<\/strong><span>\u00a0<\/span>The Wisconsin Institute for Law &amp; Liberty (WILL) has filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of Jordan Cernek, a former teacher in the Argyle School District, for violating Mr. Cernek\u2019s Title VII rights, as well as his First Amendment right to Free Exercise of his religion under the United States Constitution and Article I, Section 18 of the Wisconsin Constitution.<\/p>\n<p>Argyle School District required staff members to use the preferred names and pronouns of transgender students; however, after voicing his religious objection to this rule, Mr. Cernek\u2019s contract was not renewed, effectively firing him from his job.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Background:<\/strong><span>\u00a0<\/span>In August of 2022, the Argyle School District announced its policy to require staff members to use the preferred names and pronouns of transgender students. Immediately, Jordan Cernek expressed that this policy would conflict with his sincerely held religious beliefs and sought an accommodation. District Administrator Mike Beranek allowed Cernek to avoid referring to the student by name, but after two short months, this accommodation was rescinded.<\/p>\n<p>Mr. Cernek was then threatened with consequences for not complying with the policy, including termination.<\/p>\n<p>To avoid acting contrary to his religious convictions, Cernek decided to continue acting according to the terms of his previous accommodation. Six months later, the District acted as promised and did not renew Mr. Cernek\u2019s teaching contract because of his religious convictions.<\/p>\n<p>The dismissal of Jordan Cernek violates the First Amendment, Title VII, and Article I of the Wisconsin Constitution. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employment discrimination based on religion. Mr. Cernek has suffered from discrimination, as his renewal was rejected solely due to his religious conviction. Additionally, the First Amendment guarantees Mr. Cernek the freedom to live according to his religious beliefs. Furthermore, the Wisconsin Constitution reaffirms the First Amendment\u2019s religious protections and provides greater support for religious liberties.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"et_pb_row et_pb_row_10\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_14  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_20  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">\n<h1><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>CASE DOCUMENTS<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/will-law.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/02-2024-07-08-Complaint.pdf\">Complaint<\/a>, July 2024<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"et_pb_row et_pb_row_11\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_column et_pb_column_1_3 et_pb_column_15  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_team_member et_pb_team_member_2 clearfix  et_pb_text_align_center et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_team_member_image et-waypoint et_pb_animation_off\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"617\" height=\"980\" src=\"https:\/\/wifamily.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/WILL_Luke_Color_001_WEB_980x617_100ppi_Sharpened.jpg\" alt=\"Luke Berg\" class=\"wp-image-9283\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"et_pb_team_member_description\">\n<h4 class=\"et_pb_module_header\">Luke Berg<\/h4>\n<p class=\"et_pb_member_position\">Deputy Counsel<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Luke@will-law.org<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"et_pb_column et_pb_column_1_3 et_pb_column_16  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_team_member et_pb_team_member_3 clearfix  et_pb_text_align_center et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_team_member_image et-waypoint et_pb_animation_off\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1280\" height=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/wifamily.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Lauren-Greuel-WILL-Photo.jpeg\" alt=\"Lauren\u202fGreuel\" class=\"wp-image-31439\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"et_pb_team_member_description\">\n<h4 class=\"et_pb_module_header\">Lauren\u202fGreuel<\/h4>\n<p class=\"et_pb_member_position\">Associate Counsel<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Lauren@will-law.org<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"et_pb_column et_pb_column_1_3 et_pb_column_17  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_team_member et_pb_team_member_4 clearfix  et_pb_text_align_center et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_team_member_image et-waypoint et_pb_animation_off\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"617\" height=\"980\" src=\"https:\/\/wifamily.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Nathalie-WILL-pic.png\" alt=\"NATHALIE BURMEISTER\" class=\"wp-image-30894\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"et_pb_team_member_description\">\n<h4 class=\"et_pb_module_header\">NATHALIE BURMEISTER<\/h4>\n<p class=\"et_pb_member_position\">Associate Counsel<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Nathalie@will-law.org<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The post <a href=\"https:\/\/will-law.org\/cernek-v-argyle\/\">Cernek V. Argyle<\/a> appeared first on <a href=\"https:\/\/will-law.org\">Wisconsin Institute for Law &amp; Liberty<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This post originally appeared at https:\/\/will-law.org\/cernek-v-argyle\/ Case Name: Cernek\u00a0v. Argyle Type of Case:\u00a0Individual Liberties Court:&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":123,"featured_media":262,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11854","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-will"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wifamily.news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11854","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wifamily.news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wifamily.news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wifamily.news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/123"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wifamily.news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=11854"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/wifamily.news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11854\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11857,"href":"https:\/\/wifamily.news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11854\/revisions\/11857"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wifamily.news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/262"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wifamily.news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=11854"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wifamily.news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=11854"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wifamily.news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=11854"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}