In one of the most animated oral arguments the high court has held, justices on both sides peppered four lawyers with questions to illustrate how their decision might affect other merchants, such as chefs and florists, and other minority groups, such as Catholics and African Americans.

While the court's liberal justices said the "cake artist" likely cannot refuse to serve gay couples, and conservative justices said his religious and free speech rights should be respected, Justice Anthony Kennedy once again was the man in the middle.

Kennedy suggested that Jack Phillips' refusal to bake cakes for same-sex weddings might mean he could post a sign that says, "We do not bake cakes for gay weddings." That, he said, could be seen as "an affront to the gay community."