Hobby Lobby stores and a sister company want a federal judge to exempt them from new federal health care law requirements that they offer the morning-after and week-after birth control pills.
Oklahoma City-based Hobby Lobby and the Oklahoma City-based Mardel Christian bookstore chains will argue their case Friday before U.S. District judge Joe Heaton.
The companies claim their owners' religious beliefs are so deeply rooted that having to provide every form of birth control would violate their conscience.
The hearing comes after the U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Hobby Lobby is likely to win its case against the federal mandate. A judge later granted a temporary restraining order against the mandate.
The companies, which are self-insured, are asking for a permanent injunction.
