The “Christmas Lawyer” Triumphs in Holiday Spirit Battle

In a remarkable turn of events, Idaho lawyer Jeremy Morris, known as the “Christmas Lawyer,” has emerged victorious from a years-long legal battle with his former homeowners association over his elaborate Christmas display. What began as a festive celebration and fundraiser for childhood cancer turned into a complex legal saga that eventually reached the Supreme Court before ending in triumph. Morris, whose case was initially overturned after winning $75,000 in 2019, persevered through multiple appeals and ultimately secured a settlement significantly larger than the original jury award. The homeowners association, which Morris playfully refers to as “grinches,” reportedly spent over a million dollars in attorney fees fighting the $75,000 verdict, only to end up paying Morris more in the final settlement. The irony of this outcome has not been lost on Morris, who is now using his windfall to spread even more Christmas cheer, purchasing additional lights and decorations to celebrate the holiday season with renewed enthusiasm.

The conflict began innocently enough in 2014, when Morris repaired an antique cotton candy machine inherited from his grandfather and made it the centerpiece of a Christmas display at his home. After creating a Facebook event, he was astonished when hundreds of families showed up to enjoy the lights, sip hot chocolate, and meet Santa Claus. Encouraged by this success, Morris decided to create an even bigger celebration the following year. When he and his family found their “dream house” in Kootenai County, just outside the city of Hayden, Morris proactively reached out to the president of the neighborhood homeowners association to inform them about his planned display. In what he describes as a “very cordial” conversation, Morris asked for input regarding his plans, including a suggestion to use shuttles since the neighborhood lacked sidewalks. However, the response he received was far from supportive. One board member drafted a letter expressing concerns that “atheists” in the neighborhood might be offended by the display and worried about “riff-raff” being drawn to the area, even making a disparaging reference to the Morris family’s previous residence near a Walmart.

Undeterred by the negative reception, Morris proceeded with decorating his house with approximately 700,000 lights months before Christmas. This prompted the HOA’s lawyer to demand removal of the decorations within 10 days, a request that Morris refused. Despite threats of legal action, Morris went ahead with his planned celebration, which included a live nativity scene, carolers, and even a camel. The event, which ran for five evenings, attracted thousands of visitors—some traveling from as far as Washington and Canada—and raised funds for children’s charities. During this time, Morris claims his family received threats, including a confrontation with a neighbor who allegedly offered to “take care of him,” which was partially captured on camera. Morris maintains that he never wanted legal action and even offered to waive his right to sue if the HOA would leave his family alone. When the association refused and the statute of limitations was nearly expired, Morris filed a lawsuit in January 2017, alleging religious discrimination in violation of the Fair Housing Act.

The initial legal proceedings seemed to favor Morris, with a jury unanimously deciding in his favor and ordering the HOA to pay $75,000. However, the victory was short-lived. In a stunning reversal, federal Judge B. Lynn Winmill overturned the jury’s verdict, concluding that the case wasn’t about religious discrimination but rather the Morris family’s violation of neighborhood rules. The judge ordered Morris to pay the HOA’s legal fees, amounting to $111,000, and permanently banned the family from hosting another Christmas program that violated HOA rules. Refusing to accept defeat, Morris appealed to the 9th Circuit Court in June 2020, where his case languished for four years. When a three-judge panel affirmed Winmill’s decision to overturn the jury verdict, Morris took his case to the Supreme Court, arguing that his right to celebrate Christmas according to his faith traditions, to use his property to express his Christian faith, and to have a unanimous jury verdict protected were all “at the core of Constitutional protections and 250 years of American jurisprudence.”

The legal battle took a toll on Morris and his family. Despite still owning their home in Idaho, Morris revealed to Fox News Digital that they were “forced to quietly leave and go east due to death threats.” This underscores the intense emotions the case stirred in a state where approximately 349,000 residents—just under 20% of the population—live in neighborhoods governed by homeowners associations, according to 2021 data from the Foundation for Community Association Research. Despite these challenges, Morris’s perseverance ultimately paid off when the Supreme Court kicked the case back to the appellate court, leading the HOA to reach a settlement. The resolution not only provided financial vindication but also lifted the court order that had prevented the family from fully expressing their holiday spirit for six years.

Now, with the legal battle behind him, Morris is looking forward to celebrating Christmas with renewed enthusiasm and purpose. “After talking to my children and supporters from around the globe—and they have encouraged me to use some of the HOAs money to host an even bigger Christmas show, and in a neighborhood that embraces Christmas,” Morris stated. He added that he would “never again try to spread Christmas cheer to hateful people,” but would be using “their money” to fund future celebrations. Morris also expressed satisfaction that “the evil done by the federal judge has been undone” and that his “family’s right to celebrate Christmas through this ministry has been vindicated.” While the family has focused on indoor decorations since the court order was lifted, including 14 Christmas trees and a winter wonderland, Morris promises that his children won’t have to wait long to see “camels and choirs in our yard again.” Through persistence, faith, and determination, the “Christmas Lawyer” has ensured that his holiday spirit will continue to shine bright for years to come.