A federal judge has narrowed a lawsuit filed by a former employee of Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach’s office who claims she was fired for refusing to attend prayer services there.
But Topeka attorney Gary Laughlin said Wednesday that U.S. District Judge Sam Crow’s order allows Courtney Canfield to pursue her most important religious discrimination claim.
Crow’s order Tuesday dismissed three of the lawsuit’s four claims.
Canfield worked in the secretary of state’s office for 9 1/2 months in 2013 and alleges in the lawsuit that Assistant Secretary of State Eric Rucker ousted because she “just doesn’t go to church.”
Kobach has called the lawsuit baseless. His office has said Canfield was terminated over job performance issues. Kobach did not immediately a telephone message seeking comment Wednesday.