MN pharmacist seeks conscience protection at work

WHO:  Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys

WHAT:  Available for media interviews following oral arguments in Anderson v. Aitkin Pharmacy

WHEN:  Immediately following hearing, which begins at 10:05 a.m. CST, Thursday, Dec. 2

WHERE:  Minnesota Court of Appeals, 25 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Saint Paul, Courtroom 100, or view the livestream.

MINNEAPOLIS – Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys will be available for media interviews following oral arguments Thursday at the Minnesota Court of Appeals in Anderson v. Aitkin Pharmacy. ADF attorneys are representing Minnesota pharmacist George Badeaux, who was sued because of his conscientious objection to dispensing a drug that can cause an abortion, an action that violates his religious beliefs.

A jury found that Badeaux did not discriminate based on sex when he abided by his sincere religious beliefs that life begins at conception. ADF attorneys filed a brief in August supporting his constitutional right to work in accordance with his faith.

“No one should be forced to violate his conscience in the workplace, and that includes dispensing drugs that can cause an abortion,” said ADF Senior Counsel Rory Gray, who will be arguing before the court. “Mr. Badeaux politely informed the customer that his personal beliefs precluded him from dispensing the drug, but he offered to help her get the drug from another pharmacist, which she would have been able to do at the same pharmacy. Mr. Badeaux is a Christian who believes that an embryo is a new human life and, as such, taking a drug that prevents an embryo from implantation in the uterus ends a human life. We are urging the court to affirm the jury’s verdict and trial court’s decision, which respected Mr. Badeaux’s constitutionally protected freedom to act consistent with his beliefs while at work.”

Badeaux was a pharmacist at Aitkin Pharmacy, where he was asked by a customer to dispense the drug ella. Because of his religious belief that life begins at conception, he notified the customer that he could not dispense the pill in good conscience and instead referred the request to another pharmacist, who was willing to fill the prescription. Despite Badeaux’s efforts to accommodate the customer—and her ability to get the drug the next day—the customer sued in an attempt to punish Badeaux’s conscientious objection.

Charles Shreffler, one of nearly 5,000 attorneys in the ADF Attorney Network, is serving as local counsel on behalf of Badeaux.

Alliance Defending Freedom is an alliance-building, non-profit legal organization committed to protecting religious freedom, free speech, parental rights, and the sanctity of life.

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