Billard v. Charlotte Catholic High School
What's at Stake
Lonnie Billard worked at Charlotte Catholic High School for more than a decade – both as full-time drama and as a long-term substitute teacher – and has won numerous teaching awards, including teacher of the year. In October 2014, Lonnie wrote a Facebook post announcing that he and his long-time partner were getting married. Later that year, the school told Lonnie he could no longer work as a substitute teacher because his engagement and marriage to another man was contrary to the religious principles of the Catholic Church.
Summary
The ACLU, ACLU of North Carolina, and Tin Fulton Walker & Owen filed a lawsuit in the Western District of North Carolina under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of sex. Firing an employee for marrying a same-sex partner qualifies as sex-based discrimination under Title VII. Even though Mr. Billard worked at a private religious school, the school cannot illegally engage in sex discrimination against an employee who performs only secular job functions.
Update: On May 8, 2024, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit held that Mr. Billard was not protected by Title VII because his job fell within the “ministerial exception” to Title VII.
Legal Documents
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05/09/2024
Amended Opinion -
12/16/2022
Appellants' Reply Brief -
11/30/2022
Amicus Briefs in Support of Appellee -
- Amicus Brief of Americans United for Separation of Church and State et al.
- Amicus Brief of National Women's Law Center et al.
- Amicus Brief of Massachusetts et al.
Billard v. Charlotte Catholic High SchoolLegal DocumentsAmicus Brief of Americans United for Separation of Church and State et al.Date Filed: 11/30/2022
Court: Appeals Court (4th Cir.)
Affiliate: North Carolina
Download DocumentBillard v. Charlotte Catholic High SchoolLegal DocumentsAmicus Brief of National Women's Law Center et al.Date Filed: 11/30/2022
Court: Appeals Court (4th Cir.)
Affiliate: North Carolina
Download DocumentBillard v. Charlotte Catholic High SchoolLegal DocumentsAmicus Brief of Massachusetts et al.Date Filed: 11/30/2022
Court: Appeals Court (4th Cir.)
Affiliate: North Carolina
Download Document -
11/23/2022
Brief of Plaintiff-Appellee -
09/22/2022
Appellants' Opening Brief
Date Filed: 05/09/2024
Court: Appeals Court (4th Cir.)
Affiliate: North Carolina
Download DocumentDate Filed: 12/16/2022
Court: Appeals Court (4th Cir.)
Affiliate: North Carolina
Download DocumentDate Filed: 11/23/2022
Court: Appeals Court (4th Cir.)
Affiliate: North Carolina
Download DocumentDate Filed: 09/22/2022
Court: Appeals Court (4th Cir.)
Affiliate: North Carolina
Download Document-
03/18/2022
Order and Judgment -
09/03/2021
Order Granting Plaintiff’s Motion for Partial Summary Judgment and Denying Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment -
09/22/2017
Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment -
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10/05/2017
Plaintiff's Opposition to Motion for Summary Judgment -
10/12/2017
Defendant's Reply Brief in Support of Motion for Summary Judgment -
07/16/2018
Defendant's Supplemental Memo in Support of Motion for Summary Judgment -
08/14/2020
Defendant's Supplemental Reply in Support of Motion for Summary Judgment
Billard v. Charlotte Catholic High SchoolLegal DocumentsPlaintiff's Opposition to Motion for Summary JudgmentDate Filed: 10/05/2017
Court: District Court (W.D.N.C.)
Affiliate: North Carolina
Download DocumentBillard v. Charlotte Catholic High SchoolLegal DocumentsDefendant's Reply Brief in Support of Motion for Summary JudgmentDate Filed: 10/12/2017
Court: District Court (W.D.N.C.)
Affiliate: North Carolina
Download DocumentBillard v. Charlotte Catholic High SchoolLegal DocumentsDefendant's Supplemental Memo in Support of Motion for Summary JudgmentDate Filed: 07/16/2018
Court: District Court (W.D.N.C.)
Affiliate: North Carolina
Download DocumentBillard v. Charlotte Catholic High SchoolLegal DocumentsDefendant's Supplemental Reply in Support of Motion for Summary JudgmentDate Filed: 08/14/2020
Court: District Court (W.D.N.C.)
Affiliate: North Carolina
Download Document -
10/05/2017
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09/21/2017
Plaintiff's Motion for Partial Summary Judgment -
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10/12/2017
Plaintiff's Reply Brief in Support of Motion for Partial Summary Judgment -
07/30/2018
Defendant's Opposition to Motion for Partial Summary Judgment -
08/07/2020
Plaintiff's Supplemental Memo in Support of Motion for Partial Summary Judgment -
10/28/2020
Plaintiff's Supplemental Reply in Support of Motion for Partial Summary Judgment
Billard v. Charlotte Catholic High SchoolLegal DocumentsPlaintiff's Reply Brief in Support of Motion for Partial Summary JudgmentDate Filed: 10/12/2017
Court: District Court (W.D.N.C.)
Affiliate: North Carolina
Download DocumentBillard v. Charlotte Catholic High SchoolLegal DocumentsDefendant's Opposition to Motion for Partial Summary JudgmentDate Filed: 07/30/2018
Court: District Court (W.D.N.C.)
Affiliate: North Carolina
Download DocumentBillard v. Charlotte Catholic High SchoolLegal DocumentsPlaintiff's Supplemental Memo in Support of Motion for Partial Summary JudgmentDate Filed: 08/07/2020
Court: District Court (W.D.N.C.)
Affiliate: North Carolina
Download DocumentBillard v. Charlotte Catholic High SchoolLegal DocumentsPlaintiff's Supplemental Reply in Support of Motion for Partial Summary JudgmentDate Filed: 10/28/2020
Court: District Court (W.D.N.C.)
Affiliate: North Carolina
Download Document -
10/12/2017
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01/11/2017
Complaint
Date Filed: 03/18/2022
Court: District Court (W.D.N.C.)
Affiliate: North Carolina
Download DocumentDate Filed: 09/03/2021
Court: District Court (W.D.N.C.)
Affiliate: North Carolina
Download DocumentDate Filed: 09/22/2017
Court: District Court (W.D.N.C.)
Affiliate: North Carolina
Download DocumentDate Filed: 09/21/2017
Court: District Court (W.D.N.C.)
Affiliate: North Carolina
Download DocumentDate Filed: 01/11/2017
Court: District Court (W.D.N.C.)
Affiliate: North Carolina
Download DocumentPress Releases
Fourth Circuit Upholds Dismissal of Gay Teacher from North Carolina Catholic School