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Page Number: 10

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MASTERPIECE CAKESHOP, LTD. v. COLORADO
 
CIVIL RIGHTS COMM’N
 
Opinion of the Court
 

in  turn,  decides  whether  to  initiate  a  formal  hearing  be-
fore  a  state  Administrative  Law  Judge  (ALJ),  who  will
hear  evidence  and  argument  before  issuing  a  written 
decision.  See §§24–34–306, 24–4–105(14).  The decision of 
the ALJ may be appealed to the full Commission, a seven-
member  appointed  body.  The  Commission  holds  a  public
hearing and deliberative session before voting on the case.
If  the  Commission  determines  that  the  evidence  proves  a
CADA  violation,  it  may  impose  remedial  measures  as 
provided by statute.  See §24–34–306(9).  Available reme-
dies  include,  among  other  things,  orders  to  cease-and-
desist  a  discriminatory  policy,  to  file  regular  compliance
reports  with  the  Commission,  and  “to  take  affirmative
action,  including  the  posting  of  notices  setting  forth  the
substantive  rights  of  the  public.”  §24–34–605.    Colorado 
law  does  not  permit  the  Commission  to  assess  money 
damages or fines.  §§24–34–306(9), 24–34–605. 

C 
Craig  and  Mullins  filed  a  discrimination  complaint
against  Masterpiece  Cakeshop  and  Phillips  in  September
2012, shortly after the couple’s visit to the shop.  App. 31.
The  complaint  alleged  that  Craig  and  Mullins  had  been
denied  “full  and  equal  service”  at  the  bakery  because  of 
their  sexual  orientation,  id.,  at  35,  48,  and  that  it  was 
Phillips’ “standard business practice” not to provide cakes
for same-sex weddings, id., at 43. 

The Civil Rights Division opened an investigation.  The 
investigator  found  that  “on  multiple  occasions,”  Phillips
“turned  away  potential  customers  on  the  basis  of  their
sexual orientation, stating that he could not create a cake
for  a  same-sex  wedding  ceremony  or  reception”  because 
his religious beliefs prohibited it and because the potential 
customers  “were  doing  something  illegal”  at  that  time. 
Id.,  at  76.  The  investigation  found  that  Phillips  had  de-
clined  to  sell  custom  wedding  cakes  to  about  six  other