Palmer v. Liberty University

Last modified 2022.07.05


  • Status Ongoing
  • Type Amicus
  • Court U.S. Court of Appeals
  • Issues Discrimination by Employers, Discrimination in Name of Religion, Ministerial Exception, Schools and Learning

Case Documents

Professor Eva Palmer was terminated from Liberty University after teaching art classes at the school for more than thirty years. She brought a lawsuit challenging her termination under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), which prohibits discrimination against workers who are age 40 or older.

In defending against the lawsuit, Liberty University—a private, Christian school—argued that Palmer was a “minister,” and so, under a legal doctrine known as the “ministerial exception,” the school could not be held liable for any alleged discrimination.

The United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia rejected Liberty University’s ministerial-exception defense and held that because Palmer was not a minister, she was protected under the ADEA. In a separate ruling, the court held that although the ADEA protects Palmer from age discrimination, she had not shown that the school had terminated her in violation of the ADEA. Both parties appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

On July 25, 2022, Americans United filed an amicus brief in support of Palmer on the ministerial-exception issue. We argued that, contrary to what Liberty University urged, the court should consider ministerial-exception defenses only after it has considered the merits of Palmer’s discrimination claim. We further explained that deeming Palmer a minister would encourage religious employers to game the system and avoid responsibility for unlawful employment actions—all without serving the ministerial exception’s purpose.

Black minister smiling
Take action

We’re pledging to keep church and state separate. Join us.

Church-state separation is the foundation of religious freedom in the United States, protecting many of our most fundamental rights: LGBTQ equality, reproductive freedom, inclusive public education, and more. Now, those freedoms are under threat. Join our movement and pledge to uphold church-state separation.

SIGN THE PLEDGE