Michigan Radio: Julea Ward case: Bill would block religious discrimination against students

The bill stems from the case of Julea Ward, an Eastern Michigan University graduate student who was kicked out of a counseling program because she refused to counsel a gay student about a relationship. She said doing so conflicted with her Christian religious beliefs. She instead referred the student to another counselor.

Ward sued EMU in 2009, but lost in the lower courts. Ward and her attorneys, the Alliance Defense Fund, a legal organization that works to uphold the rights of religious college students and faculty, appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth District.

A three-judge panel of the court said a jury could conclude the university used a code of ethics it adheres to "as a pretext for punishing Ward’s religious views and speech" and sent the case back to a lower court. EMU denies any bias.

Representatives of psychological and social work organization warned lawmakers the bill could jeopardize accreditation for universities’ counseling programs.

The legislation is before the House education committee.

• Read the Michigan Radio story.