U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom earns dismissal of EEOC's religious discrimination claims

Client(s) United States Commission on International Religious Freedom

Jones Day represented the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom ("USCIRF") and its former chairman in this proceeding in which the complainant, a Muslim woman, alleged that USCIRF discriminated against her on the basis of religion by (1) rescinding a job offer it had extended to her; and (2) failing to renew her temporary contract. The complainant also alleged that USCIRF's failure to renew her contract was in retaliation for filing an EEOC complaint. Jones Day on behalf of USCIRF moved successfully to dismiss the lawsuit on the grounds that EEOC did not have jurisdiction over USCIRF because USCIRF is a legislative as opposed to executive branch agency. An Administrative Judge granted USCIRF's motion, and complainant appealed. Following briefing by both sides, however, EEOC's Office of Federal Operations agreed that EEOC did not have jurisdiction over USCIRF and affirmed the dismissal of complainant's claims.

Ghori-Ahmad v. U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, EEOC, No. 570-2010-00611X (2010)