A federal appeals court has reviewed a three-year old lawsuit involving a former Eastern Michigan University student that addresses whether counselors who refuse to work with gays and lesbians on religious grounds are in breach of professional ethics.

In 2009, the university expelled Julea Ward from its graduate counseling program after she refused for religious reasons to counsel a gay student about relationship problems, according to court documents.

Ward sued university officials, claiming her First Amendment guarantees to free speech and free practice of religion were violated.

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