Victory: ACLJ Defends Client's Right To Keep Bible at Work – County Walks Back Restrictions

In a significant win for religious liberty, the ACLJ has successfully defended the rights of a government employee who was reprimanded for quietly keeping an open Bible on his desk during work hours. After our intervention, the county has confirmed that our client is permitted to keep his Bible on his desk for personal use – an important acknowledgment that vindicates our client’s constitutional rights.

The Background

Our client, a public servant working as a public defender in New York, was confronted by his supervisor and issued a formal directive prohibiting him from “having any Bible or religious text open and visible” during client meetings – even when the Bible was not in public view.

This heavy-handed action prompted the ACLJ to step in and demand justice. We sent a demand letter to the county making clear that our client has a First Amendment right to quietly read and reference his Bible at work, particularly in his personal workspace and during personal time.

The County’s Response

In a formal letter dated April 10, 2025, the County Attorney’s Office backtracked from the original reprimand and confirmed what we’ve said all along: Our client is allowed to have an open Bible on his desk, outside of public view, for personal use.

This is a clear reversal of the initial hostility our client experienced. The county now claims it never banned such activity – despite issuing a written directive demanding that the Bible be hidden.

The letter tries to justify the county’s actions by asserting concerns over clients’ perceptions. But even the county’s own statements fail to show that our client disrupted office operations or imposed his faith on anyone. In fact, our client made good-faith efforts to comply – moving the Bible out of view and seeking clarification – only to have his efforts dismissed after the directive was already issued.

A Win for Religious Liberty

Let’s be clear: This is a win. The county has now conceded what it previously denied – our client’s right to have his Bible with him at work. The directive, as written, is now aligned with our demand that the Bible may be kept open, as long as it is not in direct view of his clients, and that our client can use it during personal time.

As our client expressed, “[This] is exactly what I wanted from the very beginning, which was the ability to keep my Bible open in a place where I can see it and be encouraged when I come against the negativity in the workplace.”

The ACLJ will continue to monitor the situation and ensure that our client is treated with the respect and religious freedom guaranteed under the Constitution.

We Will Keep Fighting

No American should be forced to choose between their job and their faith, especially those in public service. A public employee does not shed their convictions when working for the government. This victory is a reminder that when government oversteps, the Constitution stands strong – and so do we.

We’re proud to have defended our client’s rights, and we’re ready to defend yours, too.

Learn more about your rights: Know Your Rights – Bibles and Voluntary Bible Studies in the Workplace. And if you need help in this area, reach out to us at ACLJ.org/HELP.