Southwest Airlines is set to appeal a judge's ruling requiring three of the airline's lawyers to attend religious liberty training. This comes from a lawsuit filed by a former Southwest flight attendant who was fired over her views on abortion.

Ignoring a judge's orders

A few years ago, Charlene Carter, a former Southwest Airlines flight attendant, was fired for criticizing the union's decision to protest against the inauguration of former United States President Donald Trump. Carter also expressed her views on abortion and even sent a video of an aborted baby to the union's president. Southwest terminated Carter's employment which led to a lawsuit, and a judge ruled Carter's job be reinstated.

Photo: Southwest Airlines

The judge who presided over the case ordered Southwest to notify employees of their rights against religious discrimination, which the airline did not do. Instead, Southwest sent a memo to its staff explaining why Carter had lost her job. Because Southwest did not follow the judge's order, three lawyers have now been told to attend religious liberty training with Alliance Defending Freedom.

“The Court concludes that training on religious freedom for three lawyers at Southwest the Court finds responsible (Kerrie Forbes, Kevin Minchey, and Chris Maberry) is the least restrictive means of achieving compliance with the Court’s order." - District Judge Brantley Starr

Southwest argues there is no need for any religious freedom training and that it did comply with the judge's order. The airline added it could provide a corrective notice to its last communication with the staff. Now, the airline will appeal the judge's decision in hopes that its attorneys do not participate in any training.

Previous history

After Carter was fired in 2017, it was discovered that she did not just express her views but sent harsh messages to the union's president, saying,

“This is what you supported during your paid leave with others at the Women’s March in D.C…. you are truly despicable in so many ways.”

In July 2022, a jury decided Southwest was in the wrong for terminating Carter's employment and called not only for Carter to be reinstated but that she be paid $4.15 million in back pay, pain, suffering, and additional costs. The union was also told to pay $1.15 million. The judge reduced the penalty to $810,180, including $150,000 in back pay. Federal discrimination law limits the damages companies can pay in these cases.

Photo: Angel DiBilio | Shutterstock

The judge wrote in their ruling,

“The Court ENJOINS Defendants from discriminating against Southwest flight attendants for their religious practices and beliefs, including – but not limited to – those expressed on social media and those concerning abortion.”

As a response, Southwest stated it has always defended its employees' rights to express their opinions respectfully. Further, the airline said it would appeal the judge's decision.

Do you think the judge's latest ruling is fair, considering Southwest did not follow the previous one? Let us know in the comments below.

Source: PJ Media