Following the Supreme Court's decision in favor of Christian graphic designer Lorie Smith, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg implied Smith entered the wedding industry to intentionally provoke such legal battles. The court's ruling affirmed Smith's right to refuse service for same-sex weddings, citing the First Amendment. This decision sparked controversy and led to media scrutiny of the case, particularly a reported request from a same-sex couple that appeared to be fabricated. While some questioned the case's legitimacy, legal experts maintained that Smith had grounds to sue, regardless of the alleged fake customer. The debate centers around the balance between anti-discrimination laws and freedom of speech, with Buttigieg suggesting the ruling was part of a broader effort to curtail LGBTQ+ rights. Several legal experts, including Carolyn Shapiro of Chicago-Kent College of Law, affirmed Smith's standing to challenge Colorado's anti-discrimination law. Civil rights attorney Jonathan Miller concurred, emphasizing the importance of pre-enforcement legal challenges to prevent unconstitutional laws from taking effect. However, he also noted that the alleged fake customer raised concerns about the case's factual basis. Other legal professionals argued that the customer's request was irrelevant to the case, as it wasn't mentioned in the court's opinions and was submitted after Smith filed her lawsuit. Conservative attorney Ed Whelan dismissed the insinuations about Smith's intentions, highlighting the unanimous agreement among justices on her legal standing. Smith's attorney, Kristen Waggoner, criticized those questioning Smith's standing as attempting to undermine the ruling's protection of free speech. The Associated Press, while acknowledging questions surrounding the case, conceded that the revelation was unlikely to impact the ruling. Justice Neil Gorsuch's majority opinion emphasized tolerance and freedom of thought and speech as core American values, arguing that Colorado's law sought to compel individuals to act against their beliefs.

Lorie Smith, owner of 303 Creative, poses at her studio in Littleton, United States on Nov. 15, 2022. (Rachel Woolf for The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Lorie Smith, a Christian graphic artist and website designer in Colorado, center in pink, prepares to speak to supporters outside the Supreme Court on Monday, Dec. 5, 2022, in Washington, D.C. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Colorado web designer Lorie Smith in a 6-3 decision on Friday. (Collection of the Supreme Court of the United States via Getty Images)