The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit reversed a district court judge's order on June 9, 2025, that required three in-house lawyers at Southwest Airlines to undergo religious liberty training. The original order was a contempt sanction related to a religious discrimination lawsuit.
The appeals court found the sanction 'overbroad in scope and undoubtedly punitive in nature,' concluding that it 'plainly exceeded remedial bounds.' The ruling stated that the attorneys were not involved in the decision to terminate the plaintiff and showed no animus.
This decision is a favorable outcome for Southwest Airlines, as it overturns a punitive measure imposed by a lower court. It provides important lessons for employers on the proportionality of sanctions in civil contempt cases stemming from employment claims.
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