WV governor signs bill providing vital religious freedom protections
The following quote may be attributed to Alliance Defending Freedom Legal Counsel Greg Chafuen regarding West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice’s signing Thursday of the Equal Protection for Religion Act, a bill that ensures that West Virginians are free to live and work according to their faith without fear of unjust government punishment:
“Citizens should not be left defenseless when their government attempts to burden their ability to live and worship according to their faith. This law provides a sensible balancing test for courts to use when reviewing government policies that infringe upon the religious freedom rights of West Virginians. The law doesn’t automatically decide who will win every disagreement, but it does ensure that every West Virginian—regardless of belief system or political power—receives a fair hearing when government action forces a person to violate his or her religious beliefs. We commend Sen. Amy Grady and Del. Jonathan Pinson for introducing this important legislation, Del. Tom Fast for his efforts in support of the bill, and Gov. Justice for signing it into law, ensuring that freedom of religion is protected for all West Virginians.”
- Pronunciation guide: Chafuen (CHAFF’-wen)
Alliance Defending Freedom is an alliance-building, non-profit legal organization committed to protecting religious freedom, free speech, parental rights, and the sanctity of life.
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ABOUT Greg Chafuen
Greg Chafuen serves as senior counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom’s Center for Public Policy. He crafts legislation and advises government officials on policies that promote religious liberty and other civil rights. Since joining ADF in 2020, Chafuen has authored state and federal legislation defending fundamental civil rights. He regularly provides testimony and legal analysis on how proposed legislation will impact constitutional freedoms and advises lawmakers and policy organizations on the importance of laws and policies that protect First Amendment rights. Prior to joining ADF, Chafuen spent three years as a white-collar defense litigator at a prominent law firm in Washington, D.C. and one year as a law clerk to the Hon. Alice Batchelder on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit. Chafuen earned his J.D. from Notre Dame Law School, graduating cum laude in 2015. While at Notre Dame, he served as president of the Notre Dame chapter of the Federalist Society. Chafuen is admitted to the bars of Virginia and Washington, D.C.