Religion & Law

Schwarzenegger appoints openly gay judge

Posted on June 19, 2009
Gay Politics: "Ronald E. Albers is believed to be the first openly gay judge appointed by a Republican governor in California, according to the Bay Area Reporter. He was sworn in as a judge on the San Francisco County Superior Court on June 15th."

Republican senator won?t meet with Sotomayor

Posted on June 19, 2009
CNN: "Sen. James Inhofe, the Oklahoma Republican who previously voted against Sotomayor's current post as a federal appeals court judge, told the Tulsa World Thursday it is a "foregone conclusion" that he would not support Obama's pick for the high court...

Judge Sotomayor?s Misreliance on Foreign and International Law

Posted on June 19, 2009
Ed Whelan writes at National Review: "I?ve just watched the 22-minute video of an April 2009 speech that Judge Sotomayor delivered to the ACLU of Puerto Rico on the topic of American judges? use of foreign and international law. It?s a terribly muddled speech in which Sotomayor explicitly embraces Justice Ginsburg?s misguided position and asserts that Justice Scalia and Justice Thomas misunderstand the issue even as she misconceives the basis of their objections...

9th Circuit: No benefits for LA girl born from dead man?s sperm

Posted on June 18, 2009
"A 10-year-old girl conceived from the frozen sperm of a dead man cannot receive his Social Security benefits, a federal appeals court ruled . . ."

To access this complete feed in the blog feed reader login or register for free.

U.N. protocol used to regulate homeschoolers

Posted on June 18, 2009
WorldNetDaily: "A British plan to allow local authorities "the right of access to the home" and "the right to speak with each child alone" in order to evaluate homeschooling families and make certain they do what the government wants is a warning about what could happen in the United States, according to the world's largest homeschool advocacy organization...

?Mom, dad better than certified teachers?: Report says it?s ?myth? that ?qualifications? help

Posted on June 18, 2009
WorldNetDaily: The assessment said, "One of the most significant studies in this area was performed by Dr. Eric Hanushek of the University of Rochester, who surveyed the results of 113 studies on the impact of teachers' qualifications on their students' academic achievement...

Job losses hurting child support

Posted on June 18, 2009
USA Today: "In San Mateo, contempt orders against parents who owe child support increased 129% ? from 180 to 413 ? in the six months ending in March over the same time the previous year. Most child support goes through state agencies. States collect and forward payments ordered by judges in divorces and other court actions, and they track payments to families on public assistance...

?Gay man considered for post at Pentagon?

Posted on June 18, 2009
Washington Times: "President Obama is considering nominating an openly gay man to a top civilian Pentagon post as he seeks to temper growing criticism from gay rights advocates that he has not been bold enough on their issues."

Appeals Court Backs Prison for E-Mail Obscenity

Posted on June 18, 2009
Wired.com: "Sharing an obscene sexual fantasy over e-mail is a federal crime that enjoys no protection under the First Amendment, a federal appeals court said Monday, in a decision that drew sharp dissent from one judge and potentially set the stage for a Supreme Court appeal...

SC: Suit Challenges Academic Credit For Released Time Religious Instruction

Posted on June 18, 2009
Religion Clause Blog: "In Spartanburg, South Carolina, parents of two high schoolers and the Freedom from Religion Foundation (FFRF) have filed suit in federal court challenging the constitutionality of Spartanburg High School's offering academic credit for religious released-time instruction...

Court Dismisses Claims Against Church Members Who Picketed Strip Club

Posted on June 18, 2009
Religion Clause Blog: "Yesterday's Coshocton (OH) Tribune reports that an Ohio federal court judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Foxholestrip club against New Beginnings Ministries. Foxhole, located near New Castle, Ohio, has been picketed since 2007 by New Beginnings ...

Christian Group Sues For Free Access To Arab Festival In Michigan

Posted on June 18, 2009
Religion Clause Blog: “Arabic Christian Perspective, a group whose goal is to convert Muslims to Christianity, has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the Dearborn (MI) police department which has told the group that its members cannot pass out handbills by walking freely through the 4 to 5 block Dearborn Arab International Festival that [...

Spanish bishops wade into abortion fight

Posted on June 18, 2009
AP: "The Spanish Bishops Conference complained that legislation sponsored by the Socialist government describes abortion as a right that must be protected by the state."

Federally imposed Medicaid morass is crushing state budgets

Posted on June 18, 2009
After 45 years, the health-care reform called Medicaid has crushed state budgets . . . Medicaid is a morass. Since the program's inception, Congress has loaded it up . . .

NOM threatens GOP primary challenges in New York

Posted on June 18, 2009
"With same-sex marriage still hanging in the balance in a paralyzed New York State Senate, the anti-marriage National Organization for Marriage is promising to spend $500,000 underwriting a primary campaign against any Republican who votes for gay marriage...

Schwarzenegger decides against defending Prop. 8 in federal court

Posted on June 18, 2009
LA Times: "The governor's decision to remain neutral in a federal challenge to Proposition 8 means no statewide official will be defending the measure in federal court."

?Maine gay marriage foes to use Calif. Prop 8 firm?

Posted on June 18, 2009
AP: "Schubert Flint Public Affairs will manage the campaign to repeal Maine's gay marriage law, just as it did in California. Organizers of the veto effort are trying to collect the signatures of more than 55,000 registered Maine voters to put the question on the November ballot...

UK: Abuse claim teachers ?guilty until proven innocent?, MPs told

Posted on June 18, 2009
Telegraph: Teachers have been banned from contacting their own children after being accused of abuse by pupils, MPs were told.

?President Obama fails to quell gay uproar?

Posted on June 18, 2009
Reuters: Are they kidding us? Domestic partnership benefits WITHOUT health insurance because of DOMA?" gay fundraiser and activist David Mixner told POLITICO in an e-mail. "It is like rubbing salt in the wound."

?7-year lawsuit finally settled in free-speech case?

Posted on June 18, 2009
One News Now: The lawsuit was filed in 2002. Jonathan Scruggs, an attorney with the Alliance Defense Fund, tells OneNewsNow the case involves Jim Gilles, a Christian who traveled to the campus to evangelize. "And [he] tried to speak there, distribute literature, talk about his religious beliefs -- and he was prevented [from doing that] by some security officials there," Scruggs explains.

Lawsuit filed to overturn decision barring D.C. same-sex ?marriage referendum

Posted on June 18, 2009
Catholic News Agency: ?Marriage didn?t violate the Human Rights Act when the HRA passed 32 years ago, and it doesn?t now. That is simply a political argument meant to prevent the people from voting,? ADF Senior Legal Counsel Brian Raum said in a statement.

?Originalism? is not conservative judicial activism

Posted on June 18, 2009
"Judicial activists," bend the meaning of the Constitution to bring about the results they desire. In doing so, they act as legislators, if not philosopher kings, violating the separation of powers.

Judge Asked to Block Decision: D.C. Residents Fight Board?s Ruling Against Referendum

Posted on June 18, 2009
Washington Post: "Opponents of gay marriage filed a lawsuit in D.C. Superior Court yesterday hoping to force a referendum on whether to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions . . . The plaintiffs are being represented by attorneys from the Alliance Defense Fund, a Christian advocacy and legal defense group...

Calvin Klein ?Threesome? Ad Draws Oohs, Aahs and Protests

Posted on June 18, 2009
Warning the graphic ad is shown Fox News: "Calvin Klein is under fire for a sexually explicit new billboard that's caught the eyes ? and turned the stomachs ? of many people who have seen it in New York."

Barbara Boxer to General: Please Call Me ?Senator?

Posted on June 18, 2009
Politics Daily: "Could you say 'senator' instead of 'ma'am?' It's just a thing. I worked so hard to get that title. I'd appreciate it."

LA: Cut costs, put unemployed parents to work caring for their own children

Posted on June 18, 2009
LA Times: "Supervisors suggest putting unemployed parents to work caring for their own children as part of proposed changes to CalWorks and other state government aid programs."

Barney Frank to reintroduce ENDA next week, 4 Republican Sponsors

Posted on June 18, 2009
Washington Blade: "Diego Sanchez, who is transgender and a senior policy adviser to Frank, said the bill has been changed from the so-called 'gay-only' version that the House passed in 2007 to include language banning job discrimination based on gender identity as well as sexual orientation...

Texas: KMBH to keep religious programs

Posted on June 18, 2009
Valley Morning Star: "The Rio Grande Valley's public television station, KMBH, will maintain its current religious broadcasting under a ruling made Tuesday by the Public Broadcasting Service Board of Directors."

Abortion forces facing off at closed Kan. clinic

Posted on June 18, 2009
AP: "On Saturday, anti-abortion forces plan to place hundreds of flowers to honor the unborn babies who were aborted at Women's Health Care Services . . . They will be met by demonstrators from the Kansas National Organization for Women . . . "

UK: ?Witches: we?ll sue over church club hire refusal?

Posted on June 18, 2009
Christian Institute: "A group of witches is claiming religious discrimination because they could not use buildings belonging to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Shrewsbury."

Bloggers, promote your law blog by nominating your blog for inclusion in USLaw.com's Law Blog Directory and RSS Reader. Benefits described.