- We begin with thetrial of a Denver baker

who has become known for standing firm

for his Christian beliefs.

This time, Jack Phillips is on trial

for refusing to make a cakecelebrating a gender transition.

You may remember Mr. Phillips'

partial Supreme Courtvictory, back in 2018.

That case was about his refusal

to bake a wedding cake for two men.

The Supreme Court ruled

that the Colorado Civil Rights Commission

showed anti-religious bias,when it sanctioned Phillips

for his refusal to make that cake.

But the court did notrule on the bigger issue,

whether businesses can refuseservice to LGBTQ customers,

based on religious beliefs.

Well, this week a state judge in Denver

presided over a virtual trial,

in regards to Phillips' refusal

to make this transition gender cake.

Customer Autumn Scardina, an attorney,

and who identifies as a transgender woman,

said she wanted to test Mr. Phillips

after hearing that he wouldn'tmake a gay wedding cake

for religious reasons,

but would sell any other type of product.

In a 2019 deposition,she is quoted as saying,

"I truly believe that.

I want to believe that he's a good person.

I want to believe that hecould be sort of persuaded

to the errors of histhinking," Scardina said,

according to a transcript thatwas previewed by Fox News.

Scardina placed an order on the same day

the Supreme Court announced it would hear

Phillips same-sex wedding cake case.

In court, she denied thatthe order was a set up.

Instead, she described it as quote,

"Calling someone's bluff."

We're joined now by attorney Jake Warner,

at Alliance Defending Freedom.

Sir, thank you so much forcoming on the broadcast.

Mr. Phillips says thisgender transition cake case

is a trap, do you see it that way?

- I certainly do see it that way.

If you remember back a few years ago,

on the same day thatthe U.S. Supreme Court

decided to hear Jack's first case,

this local Denver attorney contacted Jack

to request a custom pink and blue cake

to celebrate a gender transition.

And a few months later, thesame attorney called Jack

requesting a custom cakedepicting Satan smoking marijuana.

But this attorney has beentracking Jack for a long time.

To go back to 2012, thisattorney emailed Jack,

calling him a bigot and a hypocrite.

What's clear from thesefacts is that this attorney

has been hounding Jack for years,

all because this attorneydisagrees with Jack's views

on sex and gender.

- Tell us how the trial this week went?

- The trial went very well this week.

It's very clear that whileJack serves everyone,

he just can't express every message

through his custom cakes.

And I think the judge understood that.

This case is about someonewho's harassing Jack

into trying to express a message

that Jack cannot, due tohis religious beliefs.

- Mr. Phillips hasdropped a federal lawsuit

against the state in which he accused it

of trying to crush him, bypursuing the Scardina complaint.

Are you concerned that hereally is becoming a target,

and will find himselffacing even more orders

that go against his religious beliefs?

- Right, Jack has been a target for years.

The state tried to prosecuteJack, but you might remember

that that case ended a few years ago,

when new evidence of the state's hostility

against Jack surfaced.

But that hasn't stopped some activists,

like this local attorney,from still harassing Jack,

all because that theydisagree with Jack's beliefs

on important life issues,like sex and gender.

- How is Mr. Phillips holding up

after almost 10 years of legal battle?

He described to one news outlet,

that he had his daughter,

as well his wife having to testify again.

How's he doing?

- He's doing well.

He's endured nearly adecade of litigation.

He's lost a significantpart of his business.

And just this week,

he had to watch his wifeand daughter stand trial

because of a stand that hemade for his religious beliefs.

It's been a tough time forJack, but he is a faithful man,

and he's trusting that Godwill do big things for him

through this case.

- Can you talk about the bigger picture?

Is this sort of just symptomatic

of perhaps what we aregoing to face down the road,

others like Mr. Phillips,

and folks who have religiousbeliefs on certain issues?

Is this gonna be what we'regonna be facing in the future?

- This is a big problem.

It's not only affected Jack,

but it's affected creativeprofessionals around the country.

State officials are applying certain laws

to force these people to express messages

that go against their core beliefs.

And more and more courtsover the past few years

have stepped up and said no,the government can't do that

under the First Amendment.

And what we're hoping isthat the U.S. Supreme Court

will weigh in and say no,

no government official hasthe power to punish people

for declining to express a message

that goes against their core beliefs.

- Okay, Mr. Warner, we willhave to leave it there.

Jake Warner with theAlliance Defending Freedom,

and incidentally the groupthat is also representing

Mr. Phillips in this case.

Thank you so much forcoming on the broadcast,

and have a great weekend, okay.

- Thanks, you too.- You're welcome.