California Courts TARGET Christian Baker

California courts have escalated their attack on religious liberty, forcing a Christian baker to petition the U.S. Supreme Court simply for following her faith.

Story Snapshot

• Cathy Miller, a Christian baker in California, faces state penalties for declining to make a same-sex wedding cake because of her beliefs.
• After losing her case in state courts, Miller is now asking the U.S. Supreme Court to protect her First Amendment rights.
• This case reignites the national debate over religious freedom versus government-imposed “anti-discrimination” mandates.
• A Supreme Court ruling could set a precedent with major implications for religious business owners and free speech.

California’s Courts Target Religious Business Owners

In Bakersfield, California, Cathy Miller—owner of Tastries Bakery—refused in 2017 to create a custom wedding cake for a same-sex couple because doing so would violate her Christian convictions. The couple, Eileen and Mireya Rodriguez-del Rio, filed a complaint, triggering years of costly litigation. While Miller initially secured favorable rulings in local courts, the California Fifth District Court of Appeals reversed those decisions, claiming her refusal amounted to illegal discrimination under the Unruh Civil Rights Act. This state law prioritizes “civil rights protections” for LGBTQ individuals over the religious freedom of small business owners.

The California Supreme Court’s refusal to hear Miller’s appeal in May 2025 effectively upheld the lower court’s ruling against her. This development forced Miller, with backing from national religious liberty attorneys, to petition the U.S. Supreme Court in August. Her legal team argues that compelling her to create a message she disagrees with violates both her free speech and free exercise rights under the First Amendment. The path to the nation’s highest court not only highlights California’s hostility toward faith-based businesses but also demonstrates the ever-expanding reach of government “anti-discrimination” mandates into private enterprise and personal conscience.

Religious Liberty Versus ‘Anti-Discrimination’ Laws

Miller’s petition is the second major “cake-making” dispute to reach the Supreme Court, following the 2018 Masterpiece Cakeshop case in Colorado. Unlike that earlier decision, where the Court narrowly sided with the baker due to state hostility toward religion, California courts have offered no such protection for Miller. Their rulings assert that her faith-based objections are irrelevant in the face of state statutes. This case directly challenges whether the government can force Americans to express messages that violate their deepest beliefs, or if the First Amendment still shields religious and creative professionals from compelled speech.

The broader context reveals a troubling trend: state agencies and courts increasingly prioritize new “rights” and progressive agendas over core constitutional freedoms. The Masterpiece Cakeshop outcome left unresolved whether religious business owners must comply with every aspect of anti-discrimination laws, even when it conflicts with their faith. Miller’s case raises that fundamental question again, with implications for bakers, florists, photographers, and countless Americans who refuse to sacrifice their values for government mandates.

National Implications for Faith, Family, and Freedom

If the Supreme Court agrees to hear Miller’s case, the outcome will set a precedent that goes far beyond one bakery in California. A ruling against Miller could empower state bureaucrats to target any business or individual whose convictions conflict with the prevailing “woke” orthodoxy. Religious Americans, especially those running small businesses, could face fines, closure, or forced compliance with speech and practices they fundamentally oppose. On the other hand, a decision upholding Miller’s rights would reaffirm that the First Amendment still means what it says: government cannot coerce citizens to betray their faith or conscience under the guise of “progress.”

For conservatives and all Americans concerned about runaway government power, this case is a bellwether. It is not simply about cake—it is about whether this country will continue to defend individual liberty, uphold the Constitution, and respect the foundational role of religious faith in public life. The eyes of the nation now turn to the Supreme Court, hoping it will restore the core freedoms that California’s political elite seem determined to erase.

Expert Analysis and Public Response

Attorneys for Miller, including the well-respected Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, argue that the state’s campaign against her is nothing less than “bullying.” Legal scholars note that the Supreme Court’s previous rulings left this issue unresolved, making Miller’s case potentially decisive for the entire country. Meanwhile, advocacy groups on both sides marshal resources, recognizing the stakes: the future of religious liberty, free speech, and whether small business owners can operate without government intrusion into their beliefs. As public debate intensifies, this case stands as a flashpoint in the broader battle over faith, family, and American constitutional values.

Sources:

Christian baker appealing to SCOTUS after two-for-two bout in California courts

Christian baker Cathy Miller’s lawsuit over refusing service to lesbian couple may reach U.S. Supreme Court

Supreme Court faces second cake-making religious liberty dispute

Supreme Court to decide whether California can prosecute custom baker

Supreme Court asked to hear same-sex wedding cake dispute brought by Christian baker