Ninth Circuit Clarifies Religious Exemption Pleading Standard

(From JD Supra) On September 23, 2025, the Ninth Circuit held that plaintiffs must plead a bona fide religious belief—not a personal interpretation—to claim a Title VII religious exemption. In Detwiler v. Mid-Columbia Med. Ctr., the plaintiff objected to COVID-19 testing, citing carcinogenic concerns and her “Christian duty” to protect her body. The court affirmed dismissal, finding her objection rooted in secular, medical views. It clarified that broad religious references alone don’t establish a genuine belief and that courts need not accept conclusory claims. The decision gives employers more room to deny exemptions based on secular beliefs, though such denials may still lead to litigation.

From JD Supra