Woodfill v. Parker

The city of Houston attempted to subpoena 17 different types of communications belonging to several area pastors in a lawsuit in which the pastors are not even involved. City officials were upset over a voter lawsuit filed after the city council rejected valid petitions to repeal a law that, in part, allows members of the opposite sex into each other’s restrooms. The city illegitimately demanded that the pastors, who were not party to the lawsuit, turn over their constitutionally protected speeches, e-mails, text messages, and other communications with their congregants simply so the city could see if the pastors had ever opposed or criticized the city.