Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/19pdf/19-267_1an2.pdf
Page Number: 11

Cite as:  591 U. S. ____ (2020) 

7 

Opinion of the Court 

that Morrissey-Berru had “significant religious responsibil-
ities” but reasoned that “an employee’s duties alone are not 
dispositive under Hosanna-Tabor’s framework.”  Ibid.  Un-
like Perich, the court noted, Morrissey-Berru did not have
the formal title of “minister,” had limited formal religious
training, and “did not hold herself out to the public as a re-
ligious leader or minister.”  Ibid.  In the court’s view, these 
“factors”  outweighed  the  fact  that  she  was  invested  with
significant religious responsibilities.  Ibid.  The court there-
fore held that Morrissey-Berru did not fall within the “min-
isterial exception.”  OLG filed a petition for certiorari, and 
we granted review. 

B 
1 
The  second  case  concerns  the  late  Kristen  Biel,  who 
worked for about a year and a half as a lay teacher at St.
James School, another Catholic primary school in Los An-
geles.  For part of one academic year, Biel served as a long-
term substitute teacher for a first grade class, and for one 
full year she was a full-time fifth grade teacher.  App. 336– 
337.  Like Morrissey-Berru, she taught all subjects, includ-
ing religion.  Id., at 288; ER 588 in No. 17–55180 (CA9) (St. 
James).6 

Biel had a B. A. in liberal studies and a teaching creden-
tial.  App. 244.  During her time at St. James, she attended 
a religious conference that imparted “[d]ifferent techniques 
on teaching and incorporating God” into the classroom.  Id., 
at 260–262.  Biel was Catholic.7 

Biel’s  employment  agreement  was  in  pertinent  part 
nearly identical to Morrissey-Berru’s.  Compare id., at 154– 

—————— 

6 Biel  died  during  the  pendency  of  this  suit,  which  has  subsequently
been litigated by her husband as representative of her estate.  Record in 
No. 17–55180 (CA9), Docs. 112, 113. 

7 The  school  principal  stated  that  she  prefers  that  teachers  at  the 

school be Catholic.  ER 32 (St. James).