Fifth Circuit Rejects Jewish Applicant’s Racial-Discrimination Claim Against Christian Franchise Company

Event date: September 30, 2026. Reporting published: October 2, 2026. Posted: October 3, 2026.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for Christian Brothers Automotive in Domanic v. Christian Brothers, No. 25-20486. The ethnically and religiously Jewish applicant challenged the company’s Christian-only franchise requirement under 42 U.S.C. § 1981.

The court explained that § 1981 protects against discrimination based on Jewish ancestry or ethnicity, but does not cover discrimination based solely on religion. It found insufficient evidence that the requirement concealed ethnic discrimination. The company said its faith requirement applies regardless of ancestry; the record included ethnically Jewish franchisees who profess Christianity. Domanic argued that Jewish ethnicity and faith could not be separated.

Why it matters: The decision addresses the boundary between ancestry and religion under § 1981. It is not a blanket ruling permitting every form of religious discrimination.

Procedural status: Published appellate merits decision affirming summary judgment. Further review remains possible.

Sources: Fifth Circuit opinion; Chron reporting.