Court Allows Lawsuit Over Forced Sabbath Work

Orthodox Jewish employee claims religious accommodation denial at Detroit airport

Apr. 9, 2026 at 6:48pm

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A dimly lit, cinematic painting of a lone Transportation Security Officer booth at an empty airport terminal, with warm diagonal sunlight and deep shadows, conveying a sense of isolation and contemplation.The quiet, solitary nature of airport security work highlights the challenges of balancing operational needs with religious accommodation.Today in Detroit

A U.S. District Court judge has ruled that an Orthodox Jewish employee of the Department of Homeland Security can proceed with a religious accommodation lawsuit after being forced to work on the Sabbath at the Detroit Wayne County Metropolitan Airport. The plaintiff alleges his requests to avoid Saturday shifts were denied, while non-Jewish coworkers received the same day off with less notice.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing legal battles over religious freedom and workplace accommodation, particularly for minority faiths like Orthodox Judaism. The ruling could set an important precedent for how federal agencies must respond to sincere religious beliefs of employees.

The details

The plaintiff, an Orthodox Jew, was employed as a Transportation Security Officer (TSO) at the Detroit airport. He alleged his religious beliefs precluded him from working on the Sabbath, from Friday evening to Saturday evening, and that he made this known to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at the start of his employment. However, the plaintiff claims he was still required to work on Saturday, June 18, 2022, despite requesting time off more than a month in advance. The judge ruled the plaintiff had met the burden to allow his religious accommodation claim to move forward, rejecting the government's argument that shift swaps and use of leave time constituted reasonable accommodation.

  • The plaintiff started working for the TSA in Detroit in 2021.
  • On June 18, 2022, the plaintiff was required to work on the Sabbath despite requesting time off over a month in advance.

The players

Shmueli

An Orthodox Jewish employee of the Department of Homeland Security who works as a Transportation Security Officer at the Detroit Wayne County Metropolitan Airport.

Constance Balfour

A TSA official who the plaintiff alleges granted him 'reasonable accommodations' to account for his religious beliefs.

Clinton Shrum

A TSA official who the plaintiff alleges imposed barriers to his use of religious accommodations.

Linda V. Parker

The U.S. District Court judge who ruled the plaintiff's religious accommodation lawsuit can proceed.

United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

The federal agency that employed the plaintiff as a Transportation Security Officer.

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What they’re saying

“[The plaintiff] is an Orthodox Jew who observes 'Shabbos' ('Sabbath') from Friday evening through sundown on Saturday evening, during which time he is not permitted to work.”

— Judge Linda V. Parker, U.S. District Court Judge

“[The plaintiff] has met the applicable burden at the motion-to-dismiss stage for his Title VII religious accommodation claim to survive.”

— Judge Linda V. Parker, U.S. District Court Judge

What’s next

The judge's ruling allows the plaintiff's religious discrimination lawsuit to proceed. A future court date will be set to hear arguments on the merits of the case.

The takeaway

This case underscores the ongoing legal tensions between employers' operational needs and workers' religious freedoms. The ruling suggests federal agencies must make a stronger effort to reasonably accommodate sincere religious beliefs, even if it requires more scheduling flexibility or shift swaps.