Fitzmaurice v. City of Quincy

Becket Role:
Counsel
Case Start Date:
May 27, 2025
Deciding Court:
Massachusetts Superior Court, Norfolk County
Original Court:
Massachusetts Superior Court, Norfolk County
Practice Area(s):

Case Snapshot

The City of Quincy, Massachusetts, is building a new public safety headquarters for its police and fire departments. As part of the design, the city planned to install statues of Michael the Archangel and Florian, two figures with deep significance to police and firefighter communities. The ACLU sued to stop the construction, claiming that Quincy could not honor its first responders in this way because Michael and Florian have religious meaning to some.

Status

On October 14, 2025, a lower court judge in Massachusetts blocked the installation of the statues. Becket has stepped in to defend Quincy in the state’s appellate courts, arguing that Michael and Florian have significance to first responders of many faiths and none, and targeting these statues because they have religious meaning to some harms pluralism and religious diversity.
Images of statues in Massachusetts, including the Ether Monument, figure of "Faith" in the National Monument to Forefathers, Relief of Moses in the John Adams Courthouse, and the Puritan in Springfield. Image also shows two "missing" statues of Michael and Florian.

Case Summary

Symbols of sacrifice 

Across the country, police and fire departments have long used the figures of Michael the Archangel and Florian, an early Roman firefighter, to symbolize the ideals of their professions. Fire departments use the Florian cross as their emblem, and police officers often identify with Michael as they pursue their goal of protecting communities against wrongdoers. 

When the City of Quincy planned its new public safety headquarters, it decided to erect statues of Michael and Florian to reflect this tradition. The sculptures were commissioned from the same artist who created the city’s statues of John Adams and John Hancock. The goal was to honor public servants using symbols already meaningful to the departments they serve. 

The ACLU tries to stop Quincy from honoring its first responders 

Before the statues could be installed, the ACLU sued on behalf of a group of residents, arguing that Quincy could not honor its first responders in this way because Michael and Florian have religious meaning in some faith traditions. According to the ACLU, Quincy must strip its historic symbols from civic life whenever they carry any religious associations. But the Supreme Court has upheld the use of symbols with religious roots in public life, including a World War I memorial featuring a cross, when they carry historical, cultural, or commemorative significance. 

Becket defends Quincy in battle 

If the ACLU’s theory were adopted, it would give courts and officials across Massachusetts sweeping license to strip away treasured symbols of history and culture simply because they may have religious as well as secular significance. That would not protect diversity—it would erase it. Courts have long drawn a clear line: the government cannot act out of hostility toward religion. That principle includes protecting civic art from being censored simply because some symbols trace back to religious traditions. 

For centuries, communities have drawn from a wide range of historic and cultural figures to honor public service. Michael and Florian have become part of that fabric, recognized within the police and fire communities as emblems of protection, bravery, and sacrifice. Becket is ensuring that Quincy can continue this tradition without being forced to treat religion as something unwelcome in public life.

Importance to Religious Liberty: 

  • Public square: Religion is a natural part of human culture and should not be scrubbed from the public square.