Former Stockton Fire Chief Ron Hittle isn’t giving up. Last year, the Ninth Circuit sided with the city's decision to terminate Hittle. Now, he’s petitioning the U.S. Supreme Court to take up the case.
Hittle was fired in 2011 after 24 years with the department and six years as chief. He claims the termination was prompted by his Christian faith and his attendance at a faith-based leadership program.
According to Hittle, Deputy City Manager Laurie Montes accused him of being part of a “Christian Coalition” within the fire department. She allegedly ordered him to refrain from “those type of activities.”
The city claimed Hittle’s firing was performance-related. He was accused of showing favoritism toward Christian employees and refusing to cooperate with the city’s cost-saving plans. Montes said Hittle used his city vehicle on city time to attend the Christian leadership conference — a “serious” violation of policy.
After Hittle sued, a district court sided with Stockton. The case was appealed to California’s Ninth Circuit, which found Hittle had failed to provide evidence to support his discrimination claims. It upheld the lower court’s decision.
Hittle petitioned the Supreme Court to hear his religious discrimination case last Tuesday.
“It is a tragic day for religious liberty in America when someone can be fired because they attend an event that includes religious perspectives,” said Stephanie Taub, Senior Counsel at First Liberty, which is representing the former chief. “The city showed extreme anti-religious bias and broke the law when it fired Chief Hittle.”