§2000cc–2 Judicial relief

Summary

People can sue or defend themselves in court if they say a government broke this law, and they can get relief from the government. The right to sue follows the regular Article III rules. If a plaintiff first shows enough evidence that the Free Exercise Clause or section 2000cc was violated, the government must prove the claim’s elements, except the plaintiff must prove the law or practice substantially burdens their religion. Decisions from state or local forums are not automatically accepted by federal courts unless the person had a full and fair hearing there. The Prison Litigation Reform Act of 1995 is not changed or repealed. The United States can sue to make governments follow this law, and that does not limit other government powers. If the only reason a court could hear a case is a claim that religious burdens affect interstate or foreign commerce, the law does not apply when the government shows that lifting similar burdens across the Nation would not have a substantial effect on commerce.