Dr. Peter Gross is an observant Jew whose faith is central to his life. After he was sued for medical malpractice, the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas scheduled his jury trial on Yom Kippur. Yom Kippur is the holiest day on the Jewish calendar and has been observed by faithful Jews for millennia. The court refused to move the trial one day, and it removed a Jewish juror because she could not attend either. The jury sided against Dr. Gross.
This is an egregious violation of the doctor’s First Amendment rights. In an era where the poison of anti-Semitism continues to spread, it is important to uphold constitutional freedoms to defend Jewish people who face religious discrimination. The Philadelphia court’s actions demonstrate a blatant disregard for the Free Exercise rights of this doctor whose faith is central to his life. The Independence Law Center has filed an amicus brief in support of Dr. Gross in his appeal to the Pennsylvania State Supreme Court.
