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<p>WASHINGTON &#8212; The Supreme Court ruled narrowly Monday for a Colorado baker who wouldn&#8217;t make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple. But the court is not deciding the big issue in the case, whether a business can invoke religious objections to refuse service to gay and lesbian people.</p><p>The justices&#8217; limited ruling turned on what the court described as anti-religious bias on the Colorado Civil Rights Commission when it ruled against baker Jack Phillips. The justices voted 7-2 that the commission violated Phillips&#8217; rights under the First Amendment.</p><p>Justice Anthony Kennedy said in his majority opinion that the issue &#8220;must await further elaboration.&#8221; Appeals in similar cases are pending, including one at the Supreme Court from a florist who didn&#8217;t want to provide flowers for a same-sex wedding.</p><p>The same-sex couple at the heart of the case, Charlie Craig and Dave Mullins, complained to the Colorado commission in 2012 after they visited Phillips&#8217; shop in suburban Denver and the baker quickly told them he would not create a cake for a same-sex wedding.</p><p>Colorado law prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, and the commission concluded that Phillips&#8217; refusal violated the law. Colorado state courts upheld the determination.</p><p>But when the justices heard arguments in December, Kennedy was plainly bothered by comments by a commission member. The commissioner seemed &#8220;neither tolerant nor respectful of Mr. Phillips&#8217; religious beliefs,&#8221; Kennedy said in December.</p><p>That same sentiment suffused his opinion on Monday. &#8220;The commission&#8217;s hostility was inconsistent with the First Amendment&#8217;s guarantee that our laws be applied in a manner that is neutral toward religion,&#8221; he wrote.</p><p>Liberal justices Stephen Breyer and Elena Kagan joined the conservative justices in the outcome. Kagan wrote separately to emphasize the limited ruling.</p><p>Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor dissented.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">In this March 10, 2014, file photo, Masterpiece Cakeshop owner Jack Phillips decorates a cake inside his store in Lakewood, Colo. The Supreme Court is setting aside a Colorado court ruling against a baker who wouldn&#8217;t make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple. But the court is not deciding the big issue in the case, whether a business can refuse to serve gay and lesbian people.  </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/web1_120578355-6abb5aee29d14b45a988c3ee7474c8ed-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>In this March 10, 2014, file photo, Masterpiece Cakeshop owner Jack Phillips decorates a cake inside his store in Lakewood, Colo. The Supreme Court is setting aside a Colorado court ruling against a baker who wouldn&#8217;t make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple. But the court is not deciding the big issue in the case, whether a business can refuse to serve gay and lesbian people.  </caption0><photoCredit0>Brennan Linsley | AP file photo </photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Mark Sherman</p><p>Associated Press</p></bylineMeta></div>

Justices side with Colorado baker on same-sex wedding cake