Southwest Airlines is back in court over firing of flight attendant with anti-abortion views

Southwest Airlines is once again facing a legal battle in the federal court system, this time regarding the termination of a flight attendant who claims she was let go due to her anti-abortion views. The case, which began in 2019, has reached the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans, where arguments are scheduled to be heard on Friday, March 31, 2023.

The former flight attendant, Jennifer Willingham, initially filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) alleging that Southwest discriminated against her based on her religion and retaliated against her for expressing her beliefs regarding abortion. According to the complaint, Willingham had shared her anti-abortion views on social media and had engaged in discussions about the topic with colleagues during work hours.

In 2021, a jury awarded Willingham $800,000 in damages after finding that Southwest had violated her rights under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. The jury also ordered the airline to pay for her attorney fees and costs. In addition to the monetary damages, the judge presiding over the case issued an order requiring Southwest's lawyers to undergo religious liberty training from the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, a conservative Christian legal group that had represented Willingham during the trial.

Southwest has appealed the decision, arguing that Willingham was terminated for violating the company's rules requiring civility and professionalism in the workplace. The airline maintains that Willingham's anti-abortion comments were "hostile and graphic" and created a disruptive work environment.

The case has garnered significant attention from both sides of the abortion debate and has raised questions about the balance between religious freedom and workplace conduct policies. The Becket Fund has argued that Willingham's termination constituted religious discrimination and that the airline's rules were applied unevenly against her.

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals will consider the legal arguments presented by both sides and will issue a ruling on the case at a later date. The outcome of the appeal could have implications for other cases involving workplace religious freedom and the limits of employers' ability to regulate employee speech and conduct.

It's important to note that this information is based on publicly available sources and should not be considered as legal advice or definitive fact. The case is ongoing and the situation may change as the appeals process unfolds.