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After A Decade of Litigation, 77-Year-Old Barronelle Stutzman Retires And Settles Arlene’s Flowers Case for $5,000

Sometimes it’s easy to forget about the people who are actually involved when reading a Supreme Court decision. Sometimes, final judgments can take years for litigants. Some litigants have to wait for longer than others. Barronelle Stutzman is the Washington owner of Arlene’s Flowers. Nearly a decade ago, her case was pending before the courts. This was the GVR. Masterpiece Cakeshop. After the end of the previous term, three dissidents were denied certification by the Court. However, the matter was not closed. ADF (Stutzman’s lawyer) filed a petition to rehear the case. These motions usually are denied pro forma. Stutzman was not done. The case was repeatedly re-listed. It was relisted several times. Arlene’s Flowers pending 303 Creative.

It is over. Stutzman is now 77 and has decided to take her retirement. Stutzman reached an agreement to pay Curt Freed (Robert Ingersroll) their long-standing request for flowers. Stutzman will pay the couple $5,000 and allow her to withdraw her current motion for reconsideration.

Stutzman made a statement.

As most people know, this was only the beginning. I was subject to lawsuits and an organized effort to force me into changing my religion or to pay the devastating price of believing them. This included threats to my house, business and life savings. Although the confrontations led to a nine-year long, winding journey through the legal system. Jesus Christ was there every step of that journey.

This journey is over, and today I feel at peace. The culmination of everything I’ve experienced could lead to a greater respect for our freedom of speech and conscience, both culturally, as well legally. To be free to follow my religion and beliefs has been all I asked from the start. With respect and the assurance that they will have the same freedom as me, I treated the persecutors of mine with dignity.

….

So, I’ve paid $5,000 to Rob and am passing my legal torch on to other artists—like Lorie Smith of 303 Creative in Colorado, whose case may well be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court this term—and thanking God for the victories He’s so graciously given me.

My conscience has never been compromised or my faith violated.

Response in 303 CreativityIt is due December 8.