Following the Supreme Court's recent decision upholding free speech protections for artists and business owners, Jack Phillips, the owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop, is optimistic that his protracted legal struggles may finally be over. Phillips gained national attention in 2012 when he refused to design a wedding cake for a same-sex couple, asserting his right to decline work that contradicts his beliefs, while maintaining that he serves all customers. Although the Supreme Court ruled in his favor in 2018, citing hostility from the state towards his religious beliefs, a subsequent lawsuit concerning a gender transition cake led to further legal challenges.

Phillips emphasizes that his bakery serves everyone but cannot express every message requested through custom cakes. He expressed enthusiasm for the recent Supreme Court ruling in 303 Creative v. Elenis, which affirmed the First Amendment rights of creative professionals to decline work that compels them to express messages they disagree with. This decision, he believes, has positive implications for free speech in the U.S. The ruling allows business owners like Lorie Smith, a Colorado graphic designer, to decline services that violate their beliefs without fear of legal repercussions.

The Supreme Court's 6-3 decision in 303 Creative v. Elenis underscores the protection of free speech for businesses creating custom designs. Justice Neil Gorsuch's majority opinion emphasized the importance of individual thought and expression as essential liberties contributing to a strong republic. The ruling prioritizes tolerance over coercion, ensuring individuals' freedom to express their beliefs without government interference.

Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), representing Phillips, has petitioned the Colorado Supreme Court to reconsider his case in light of the 303 Creative decision. ADF argues that the cake in question conveys a message, symbolizing a gender transition, and therefore falls under the protection of free speech. They contend that Phillips should not be penalized for declining to create a custom cake that promotes a message conflicting with his beliefs.