Carmack v. Janny et al
What's at Stake
The American Civil Liberties Union, along with Americans United for the Separation of Church and State and Colorado law firm DLA Piper, represent Mark Janny, an atheist whose religious-freedom rights were violated by his parole officer when Janny was sent to jail after refusing to take part in worship and religious activities.
Summary
When Janny was on parole in February 2015, Colorado Department of Corrections Parole Officer John Gamez required him to live at the Denver Rescue Mission, a Christian homeless shelter that offers religious programming for people on parole and other residents. Gamez had an arrangement with the mission’s director to place these individuals there with the understanding that they would take part in compulsory religious worship and practice. Janny, an atheist, objected to the mandatory worship services, Bible studies, and religious counseling, and he asked to be excused from religious programming or to be permitted to live elsewhere.
Gamez and the mission’s staff refused Janny’s request, threatening him with a return to jail if he did not continue living at the mission and participating in the required religious activities. When Janny ultimately declined to attend worship services, Gamez revoked his parole, and Janny was jailed for another five months.
A federal district court ruled against Janny, dismissing his case. However, after the ACLU and others stepped in to represent him, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit ruled that every person has “the basic right to be free from state-sponsored religious coercion,” reversing the district court’s decision, denying qualified immunity for the parole officer, and allowing Janny to finally take his case to trial.
Legal Documents
-
11/14/2023
District Court Order, Janny v. Gamez
Date Filed: 11/14/2023
Court: District Court (D. Colo.)
Download Document-
08/28/2020
Appellant-Petitioner's Reply Brief, Janny v. Gamez
Date Filed: 08/28/2020
Download Document-
08/10/2021
Mark Janny v. John Gamez, Jim Carmack, and Tom Konstanty
Date Filed: 08/10/2021
Download Document-
08/10/2021
Mark Janny v. John Gamez, Jim Carmack, and Tom Konstanty – Tenth Circuit Ruling
Date Filed: 08/10/2021
Download DocumentPress Releases
Colorado Man Secures Another Court Victory After He was Jailed for Refusing to Attend Christian Worship Services While on Parole
ACLU, Americans United, & Law Firm DLA Piper Secure Federal Appeals Court Victory For Colorado Parolee Jailed For Refusing To Attend Worship Services
ACLU and Americans United Tell Court Parolee Shouldn’t Have Been Jailed for Refusing to Attend Worship Services