Dive Brief:
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In a 5-to-4 decision that invited passionate dissent from the minority, the Supreme Court ruled that crafts retailer Hobby Lobby can’t be required to cover certain methods of birth control that its owners find objectionable for religious reasons. The case was brought by Hobby Lobby and other businesses against a provision of the Affordable Care Act making birth control more accessible and affordable.
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The decision ruled yesterday is meant to apply only to privately held companies like Hobby Lobby that aren’t accountable to shareholders. But Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg wrote in her dissent that the precedent could invite a much wider application.
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The ruling ignited demonstrations of support and protest at Hobby Lobby locations.
Dive Insight:
The Supreme Court’s decision in this case brought by crafts retailer Hobby Lobby was widely anticipated, and was met with a flood of reactions in the press and by advocates of both sides.
Most retailers are untouched by the ruling, although shoppers may flock to or avoid Hobby Lobby itself over the controversy. That could be something of a win for a competitor like Michaels; some advocates touted the newly public crafts retailer as an alternative for anyone displeased by the ruling.
