Hobby Lobby is an American chain of retail arts and crafts stores founded in 1972 by David Green and based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The company is privately owned and operated by the Green family. Hobby Lobby is the largest privately owned arts and crafts retailer in the world with over 800 stores in 47 states.
On June 30, 2014, the United States Supreme Court ruled in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby that closely held for-profit corporations are protected under the religious freedom provisions of the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA). The case was brought by the owners of Hobby Lobby against the United States Department of Health and Human Services over the HHS mandate requiring employer health insurance plans to cover contraception.
The Court’s ruling stated that “closely held” for-profit corporations are protected under RFRA when their owners have sincerely held religious beliefs opposing contraception. The 5-4 decision was based on the belief that the HHS mandate violated the owners’ right to free exercise of religion as guaranteed by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.
Hobby Lobby got in trouble for not providing health insurance that covers contraception to their employees. The Supreme Court ruled in their favor, stating that closely held for-profit corporations are protected under RFRA when their owners have sincerely held religious beliefs opposing contraception.
