Do corporations have beliefs?

04/01/25 • 31 min

When the US Supreme Court ruled in favour of a company called Hobby Lobby in 2014, it was hailed by conservatives as a win for the religious freedom of business owners.

Critics of the decision said it dealt a major blow to the rights of employees to access reproductive healthcare.

But there's more to this case than meets the eye.

Has the Hobby Lobby case rewritten the rules about what a corporation actually is?

Guest: Associate Professor Steve Kourabas, Deputy Director, Centre for Commercial Law and Regulatory Studies, Monash University

Case: Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc., 573 U.S. 682 (2014)

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When the US Supreme Court ruled in favour of a company called Hobby Lobby in 2014, it was hailed by conservatives as a win for the religious freedom of business owners.

Critics of the decision said it dealt a major blow to the rights of employees to access reproductive healthcare.

But there's more to this case than meets the eye.

Has the Hobby Lobby case rewritten the rules about what a corporation actually is?

Guest: Associate Professor Steve Kourabas, Deputy Director, Centre for Commercial Law and Regulatory Studies, Monash University

Case: Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc., 573 U.S. 682 (2014)

* * * * *

🎙️ Thinking of making a podcast?

You need Miniature Creative, the producer of Case In Point.

Podcasts aren’t just entertaining for listeners. For your brand they build authority, trust and help you create deeper connections with your audience.

Get in touch 👉 www.miniaturecreative.com.au ✉️ [email protected]

Previous Episode

Is it a crime to attempt to murder a corpse?

Today’s case has been described as one of the most bizarre cases in recent Australian legal history, with a climax mirroring one of Agatha Christie’s most famous novels.

Guest: Dr Natalia Antolak-Saper, criminal law scholar, Monash University

Case: R v Darrington [2016] VSC 60

Further Reading: Man jailed for eight years for attempting to murder a corpse (The Age, 29 February 2026)

* * * * *

🎙️ Thinking of making a podcast?

You need Miniature Creative, the producer of Case In Point.

Podcasts aren’t just entertaining for listeners. For your brand they build authority, trust and help you create deeper connections with your audience.

Get in touch 👉 www.miniaturecreative.com.au ✉️ [email protected]

Case In Point - Do corporations have beliefs?

Transcript

[MUSIC]

[ARCHIVAL NEWS GRAB]

CNN Reporter: With us today is Lori Windham. She's the attorney for Hobby Lobby, and she's here to share her reaction to today's ruling in favor of Hobby Lobby, the company that you've been representing Lori, and this highly contentious fight that's garnered a lot of attention. Tell me what your reaction is.

Lori Windham: We are thrilled with the court's decision today. We think this is a great day for religious freedom. The court reaffirmed tha