Court says employer not burdened by contraception mandate

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Hobby Lobby Stores Inc. and Mardel Inc., both of which are owned by the Green family, told the court that the requirement to cover contraception, sterilization and emergency contraceptives within their employee health insurance plan violated their rights under the First Amendment and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit did not concur, agreeing with the lower court that the “contraception mandate” doesn't pose a substantial burden to the rights of the corporations. It declined to give a preliminary injunction.

Employers have been keeping an eye on the host of lawsuits such as this filed over the mandate, including one by a group of Catholic institutions. The mandate has an exception for explicitly religious institutions, but does not apply to universities or non-profits.

Hobby Lobby has said it will appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.