Case: United States v. City of Troy, Idaho

3:25-cv-00262 | U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho

Filed Date: May 20, 2025

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

In this case, the U.S. Department of Justice sued the City of Troy, Idaho, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho, for religious discrimination. On May 20, 2025, the United States filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho against the City of Troy, Idaho for denying a permit application that would have allowed Christ Church, an evangelical church congregation, to operate a religious assembly in the City of Troy. The government alleged violations of the…

In this case, the U.S. Department of Justice sued the City of Troy, Idaho, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho, for religious discrimination.


On May 20, 2025, the United States filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho against the City of Troy, Idaho for denying a permit application that would have allowed Christ Church, an evangelical church congregation, to operate a religious assembly in the City of Troy. The government alleged violations of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc, which prohibits “impos[ing] or implement[ing] a land use regulation that imposes a substantial burden on the religious exercise of a person, including a religious assembly or institution.” The government sought declaratory and injunctive relief to remedy the alleged discrimination and to enjoin the City of Troy from treating religious and nonreligious institutions differently in permit applications. The case was assigned to Chief District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford.


This lawsuit remains ongoing.

Summary Authors

Claire Pollard (7/28/2025)

Madison Krumins (2/4/2026)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70319227/parties/united-states-v-city-of-troy-idaho/


Attorney for Plaintiff

Bruzzone, Callie (Idaho)

England, Christine Gealy (Idaho)

Rahim, Anisa (Idaho)

Attorney for Defendant

McGill, Joseph (Idaho)

Richardson, Todd Samuel (Idaho)

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Documents in this case
1

3:25-cv-00262

Complaint

May 20, 2025

May 20, 2025

Complaint

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70319227/united-states-v-city-of-troy-idaho/

Last updated March 15, 2026, 4:24 a.m.

ECF Number Date Description Link
1 May 20, 2025

COMPLAINT against City of Troy, Idaho, filed by UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. (Attachments: # 1 Cover Sheet)(Sacks, Noah)

1 Cover Sheet

View on PACER

Clearinghouse
2 June 17, 2025

WAIVER OF SERVICE Returned Executed by United States of America. City of Troy, Idaho waiver sent on 5/30/2025, answer due 7/29/2025. (Attachments: # 1 Signed Waiver of Service)(Sacks, Noah)

RECAP
3 June 26, 2025

NOTICE of Appearance by Todd Samuel Richardson on behalf of City of Troy, Idaho (Richardson, Todd)

RECAP
4 June 26, 2025

MOTION FOR PRO HAC VICE APPEARANCE by Joseph P. McGill. ( Filing fee $ 250 receipt number AIDDC-2947445.)Todd Samuel Richardson appearing for Defendant City of Troy, Idaho. Responses due by 7/17/2025 (Richardson, Todd)

RECAP
5 June 27, 2025

NOTICE of Assignment to Magistrate Judge and Declination of Consent Form sent to counsel for City of Troy, Idaho, United States of America re 3 Notice of Appearance, 1 Complaint Consent/Objection to Magistrate due by 7/28/2025. (lm)

RECAP
June 27, 2025

Corrective Entry

June 27, 2025

CORRECTIVE ENTRY - The entry docket number 4 MOTION FOR PRO HAC VICE APPEARANCE by Joseph P. McGill. ( Filing fee $ 250 receipt number AIDDC-2947445.) filed by City of Troy, was filed incorrectly in this case. All Pro Hac Vice applications must contain the statement that it was signed under penalty of perjury, Per Local Rule 83.4(e). The filing party shall re-submit their correct filing signed under penalty of perjury as an ERRATA and link that to the original motion for Pro Hac Vice to avoid paying an additional filing fee.(lm)

6 June 30, 2025

ERRATA by Defendant City of Troy, Idaho re 4 MOTION FOR PRO HAC VICE APPEARANCE by Joseph P. McGill. ( Filing fee $ 250 receipt number AIDDC-2947445.) . (Richardson, Todd)

RECAP
7 July 1, 2025

DOCKET ENTRY ORDER approving (Dkt. 4 ) Motion for Pro Hac Vice Appearance of attorney Joseph McGill for City of Troy, Idaho. Per Local Rule 83.4(e), out-of-state counsel shall immediately register for ECF. (Notice sent to CM/ECF Registration Clerk) (caused to be mailed to non Registered Participants at the addresses listed on the Notice of Electronic Filing (NEF) by (lm)

RECAP
8 July 14, 2025

DECLINATION OF CONSENT TO A MAGISTRATE JUDGE FILED AND REASSIGNMENT OF CASE. Case reassigned to Judge Amanda K Brailsford for all further proceedings. US Magistrate Judge Raymond E. Patricco no longer assigned to case. Please use this case number on all future pleadings, 3:25-cv-00262-AKB(lm)

RECAP
9 Aug. 20, 2025

Defendant, City of Troy, Idaho's ANSWER to 1 Complaint Together With Affirmative Defenses, Demand for Jury Trial and Proof of Service by City of Troy, Idaho.(Richardson, Todd)

RECAP
10 Aug. 21, 2025

LITIGATION ORDER AND NOTICE OF TELEPHONIC SCHEDULING CONFERENCE - The Court will conduct a telephonic scheduling conference on October 2, 2025, at 2:30 p.m. mountain time (Boise chambers), for purposes of confirming the deadlines proposed by the parties in the joint Litigation Plan. On or before September 25, 2025, the parties must file with the Court the joint Litigation Plan and Discovery Plan. Signed by Judge Amanda K Brailsford. (caused to be mailed to non Registered Participants at the addresses listed on the Notice of Electronic Filing (NEF) by (lm)

RECAP
11 Sept. 9, 2025

NOTICE of Appearance by Anisa Rahim on behalf of United States of America (Rahim, Anisa)

RECAP
12 Sept. 10, 2025

AMENDED DOCUMENT by City of Troy, Idaho. Amendment to 9 Answer to Complaint First Amended Affirmative Defenses. (Richardson, Todd)

RECAP
13 Sept. 25, 2025

DISCOVERY PLAN by United States of America . (Sacks, Noah)

RECAP
14 Sept. 30, 2025

First MOTION to Continue Scheduling Conference Anisa Rahim appearing for Plaintiff United States of America. Responses due by 10/21/2025 (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order)(Rahim, Anisa)

RECAP
15 Oct. 1, 2025

DOCKET ENTRY ORDER GRANTING 14 First MOTION to Continue Scheduling Conference. The Telephonic Scheduling Conference is re-set for 10/3/2025 02:30 PM (MT). The Plaintiff shall place the call to 208-334-9239 with opposing counsel on the line. Signed by Judge Amanda K Brailsford. (caused to be mailed to non Registered Participants at the addresses listed on the Notice of Electronic Filing (NEF) by (kt)

RECAP
16 Oct. 2, 2025

First MOTION to Stay the Entire Case due to Lapse in Appropriations Anisa Rahim appearing for Plaintiff United States of America. Responses due by 10/23/2025 (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order for Stay of the Entire Case)(Rahim, Anisa)

1 Proposed Order for Stay of the Entire Case

View on PACER

RECAP
17 Oct. 2, 2025

DOCKET ENTRY ORDER. This case is hereby stayed in accordance with General Order No. 465. Signed by Judge Amanda K Brailsford. (caused to be mailed to non Registered Participants at the addresses listed on the Notice of Electronic Filing (NEF) by (jd)

RECAP
18 Oct. 3, 2025

DOCKET TEXT NOTICE VACATING HEARING: Pursuant to General Order No. 465, the telephonic scheduling conference set for 10/3/2025 is hereby VACATED. (kt)

RECAP
19 Nov. 19, 2025

DOCKET ENTRY ORDER. Pursuant to General Order No. 465 and except as otherwise noted below, all applicable deadlines under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and any deadlines provided for in the Courts Case Management Orders or Amended Case Management Orders for those cases included in the Case List Report (incorporated by reference in General Order No. 465) are hereby extended a period of 43 days from the original deadline. Any deadlines that were separately set by stipulation and/or court order are not extended by this Docket Entry Order. Similarly, any deadlines for discovery requests are not extended if, as of October 1, 2025, the discovery could not have been timely served and completed prior to the original discovery deadline. Note that the Clerk's Office is in the process of re-setting all of these deadlines in CM/ECF. Signed by Judge Amanda K Brailsford. (caused to be mailed to non Registered Participants at the addresses listed on the Notice of Electronic Filing (NEF) by (km)

RECAP
20 Nov. 20, 2025

First MOTION to Withdraw as Attorney. Request to Turn Electronic Noticing OFF (no longer receive NEFs in this case only) by AttorneyAnisa Rahim appearing for Plaintiff United States of America. Responses due by 12/11/2025 (Rahim, Anisa)

RECAP
21 Nov. 21, 2025

ORDER GRANTING MOTION TO WITHDRAW - IT IS HEREBY ORDERED the Motion for Withdrawal of Appearance of Anisa Rahim (Dkt. 16 ) is hereby GRANTED, and counsel Anisa Rahim is permitted to withdraw. Signed by Judge Amanda K Brailsford. (caused to be mailed to non Registered Participants at the addresses listed on the Notice of Electronic Filing (NEF) by (lm)

RECAP
22 Dec. 17, 2025

NOTICE of Appearance by Charla Jackson on behalf of United States of America (Jackson, Charla)

RECAP
23 Jan. 14, 2026

DISCOVERY PLAN by United States of America (Joint). (England, Christine)

RECAP
24 Jan. 14, 2026

SCHEDULING CONFERENCE FORM - LITIGATION PLAN by United States of America. (England, Christine)

RECAP
25 Jan. 15, 2026

SCHEDULING ORDER TRACK - All dispositive motions and motions for punitive damages, must be filed by October 26, 2026. Motions to amend the pleadings, except for allegations of punitive damages, and motions to join parties must be filed on or before March 26, 2026. ADR must be held by April 27, 2026. All fact discovery must be completed by September 25, 2026. Signed by Judge Amanda K Brailsford. (caused to be mailed to non Registered Participants at the addresses listed on the Notice of Electronic Filing (NEF) by (lm)

RECAP

Case Details

State / Territory:

Idaho

Case Type(s):

Speech and Religious Freedom

Key Dates

Filing Date: May 20, 2025

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

The United States

Plaintiff Type(s):

U.S. Dept of Justice plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

U.S. Dept. of Justice Civil Rights Division

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

City

City of Troy, Idaho

Defendant Type(s):

Jurisdiction-wide

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Title IV, Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000c et seq.

Other Dockets:

District of Idaho 3:25-cv-00262

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Relief Granted:

None yet

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

Affected Religion(s):

Christianity

Recommended Citation