A lawyer specializing in Christmas cases is considering a Supreme Court review in a dispute with a homeowners association over a holiday light show.

The Supreme Court may hear an appeal from a man who organized large Christmas events and his former homeowners association, following a lower court's decision.

According to Jeremy Morris, who spoke to Planet Chronicle Digital, it was evident that a jury could determine that a hostile atmosphere was created and our family was discriminated against.

Morris, a lawyer, gained international fame as the "Christmas Lawyer" after hosting a five-day holiday light show that attracted thousands of people to his former home in Hayden, Idaho.

In 2017, a jury found that Morris's HOA discriminated against him based on religion by trying to stop his Christmas show. However, in a surprising turn of events, a federal judge overturned this decision and ordered Morris to pay the HOA over $111,000 in legal fees.

In June 2020, Morris challenged the ruling of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which heard arguments in the HOA's favor. Four years later, a three-judge panel ruled in the HOA's favor in part and in Morris' favor in part, setting the stage for a new jury trial.

Morris stated that he is definitely considering appealing to the Supreme Court first.

How the Christmas light fight began

After hosting his first Christmas party at his previous home in 2014, Morris put his current house up for sale.

In January 2015, Morris was informed by the West Hayden Estates homeowners association that his plan to repeat the Christmas display would likely violate three sections of the community's covenants, conditions and restrictions. The board argued that the event would be too big, too noisy and too bright.

The letter considered if non-Christians would be upset by the display and worried that the show might attract "undesirable" individuals to the area.

Morris responded, stating that the CC&Rs did not apply to his situation and that the board was practicing religious discrimination. Afterward, his family finalized the purchase of the house and relocated.

The HOA's attorney threatened legal action against Morris if he hosted the event without approval from the board after he decked his house with around 200,000 individual lights that fall.

Despite the show going on, spectators were greeted by costumed characters, musicians, a children's choir, a live nativity scene, and even a camel. Morris provided shuttle buses to transport visitors to the event, and volunteers directed cars through the streets around the house, as per court documents.

The Morris family's next show was met with growing tensions as neighbors were accused of harassing spectators. A bus driver claimed that a resentful resident repeatedly tried to stage an accident when shuttles passed by. Morris stated that his family received threats, including an in-person confrontation partially caught on camera in which a neighbor offered to "take care of him."

Morris had previously stated to Planet Chronicle Digital that he did not wish to pursue legal action and was willing to relinquish his right to initiate a lawsuit if the HOA ceased harassing his family. However, the HOA declined, and the deadline for filing a lawsuit was rapidly approaching.

Jury unanimously sided with Morris in discrimination lawsuit, but judge flipped the verdict

In January 2017, Morris filed a lawsuit alleging religious discrimination in violation of the Fair Housing Act. The jury found in his favor and ordered the HOA to pay $75,000.

Judge B. Lynn Winmill reversed the verdict and ordered Morris to pay the HOA's legal fees, ruling that the case was not about religious discrimination but rather the Morris family's violation of neighborhood rules.

The judge's order permanently banned the Morris family from holding another Christmas program that violated HOA rules, but since they have moved out of Idaho, it is now a moot point.

In June 2020, the 9th Circuit heard the Morris family's appeal.

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the letter did not violate the law, but that the HOA may have created a hostile environment.

A three-judge panel upheld Winmill's decision to overturn the jury verdict, ruling that a reasonable jury should not have interpreted a 2015 HOA letter as evidence of a preference for a "non-religious individual" to purchase the Morrises' home.

The ruling, which spans over 100 pages, stated that the panel agreed with the jury's verdict that the HOA board's actions were influenced by the Morrises' religious beliefs.

Judge Daniel P. Collins dissented from the panel's decision, arguing that the HOA's behavior was more akin to making the Morris family "unwelcome" than enforcing rules. Collins contended that the board's action also contributed to harassment of the Morrises by other residents, resulting in physical confrontations and a death threat.

The HOA's attorney, Peter Smith, wrote in an email to Planet Chronicle Digital that the HOA "categorically denies any interference with the Morrises' right to purchase and enjoy their home without discrimination" and "has consistently worked to create an inclusive and welcoming environment for all residents."

"Smith stated, "We anticipate presenting in court evidence that the Association acted lawfully, and we are confident that the legal process will exonerate the Association and prove that it did not create a hostile environment for the Morrises.""

Morris stated to Planet Chronicle Digital that we could retry the case and he was confident that we would win again, just as we did previously.

He argued that the 9th Circuit's ruling on the letter was problematic and suggested that the outcome would have been different if "non-Christian" was replaced with any other faith.

"If we strictly interpret this decision, people of any faith can be discriminated against. You can admit that you're discriminating against them," he said. "We all know that no court would do that, but a court just made it clear you can do that to a Christian."

Given the same property rights as other people, Christians are no longer in the United States.

Over 7,000 cases are requested for review by the Supreme Court annually, yet it typically accepts less than 100.

Separate suit planned against Idaho State Bar

Morris stated to Planet Chronicle Digital that he intends to file a lawsuit against the Idaho State Bar for an alleged "shakedown" that occurred last year, which he likened to mob tactics.

The Idaho State Bar examined the remarks Morris made about the judge who overturned his case, including calling him "corrupt," an "anti-Christian bigot," and someone who tried to "rig a jury."

Morris was threatened with disciplinary charges by the bar under Idaho's professional conduct rules, but the bar offered to dismiss the case if he surrendered his Idaho legal license. Correspondence shared with Planet Chronicle revealed that the bar counsel noted that Morris had relocated out of state and the pending "disciplinary grievance" had hindered his ability to secure employment in his new location.

Morris states that he intends to file a lawsuit seeking $10 million in damages against the bar.

The Idaho State Bar spokesperson declined to comment on potential litigation or Morris' possible disciplinary actions, stating that no formal case has been filed.

Ramiro Vargas contributed to the accompanying video.