Religion & Law

California?s ?Gender Identity? Law Goes on Trial

Posted on April 08, 2009
Citizen Link: "The effects of the legislation are playing out in schools across the state. In one Northern California school, a boy was forced to change clothes in a boys' locker room where a girl was dressing."

Canada: Teenage atheism on the rise

Posted on April 08, 2009
National Post: "The number of teenage atheists is rising at a much faster rate than their parents, setting up what could be a potentially serious threat to organized religion, which is already struggling to regain momentum after years of declining attendance ...

The habits of highly effective law firm partners

Posted on April 08, 2009
Eric Seeger writes at the Legal Intelligencer: "This article presents seven behaviors that firms need their equity partners to be able to demonstrate each year. This list can be used to evaluate partners or as a self-assessment tool."

400 at Notre Dame Attend Student-Led Prayer Rally Against Obama Appearance

Posted on April 08, 2009
Catholic Culture reports that 400 rallied on Palm Sunday. Apparently a coalition named Notre Dame Response has organized in opposition to Obama's appearance.

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

Wall Street Lawyers Dumped for Lower-Priced Boutiques

Posted on April 08, 2009
Bloomberg: "U.S. companies, adopting a model used by DuPont Co., are adding firms with 300 or fewer lawyers to their outside-counsel roster and saving as much as half compared with fees of Wall Street firms more than triple that size."

Indiana House Committee Approves Abortion Bill Requiring Hospital Privileges

Posted on April 08, 2009
LifeNews: "An Indiana state House committee approved a bill on Tuesday that would [require] abortion practitioners to have admitting privileges at a local hospital."

Does a Move To Greater Internationalism Jeopardize American Free Speech Values?

Posted on April 08, 2009
Eugene Volokh writes at the Volokh Conspiracy: "Well, let's listen to Yale Law School Dean Harold Koh, now nominated to be the Legal Advisor to the State Department, in his On American Exceptionalism, 55 Stan. L. Rev. 1479 (2003) . . . Maybe I'm missing something -- Prof...

City confesses it violated pastor?s rights

Posted on April 08, 2009
WorldNetDaily: "Christians shouldn't be penalized for expressing their beliefs," said Joel Oster, a senior legal counsel for the ADF. "We are pleased city of Wichita officials will now ensure that Pastor Holick is free to exercise his First Amendment rights in public without fear of arrest...

Seven More U.S. Bishops Make 24 Against Notre Dame Scandal

Posted on April 08, 2009
LifeSiteNews: "Seven more bishops have publicly spoken out against the University of Notre Dame's invitation to President Barack Obama to give the commencement address and receive an honorary law degree on May 17. In total 24 U.S. bishops have condemned the scandal...

Arranged marriage of girl, 14, raises cultural issues

Posted on April 08, 2009
USA Today: "Time magazine, in an in-depth story on the case and its repercussions published in February, reported that 'the tremors are being felt across hundreds of Mexican indigenous communities that use forms of bride prices ? which can include farm animals and soda as well as cash and beer...

?With Victories, Gay Rights Groups Expand Marriage Push?

Posted on April 08, 2009
NY Times: "Gay-rights groups say that momentum from back-to-back victories on same-sex marriage in Vermont and Iowa could spill into other states, particularly since at least nine other legislatures are considering measures this year to allow marriage between gay couples...

ACLU of Northern California Names New Executive Director

Posted on April 08, 2009
CBS5.com: "The American Civil Liberties of Northern California - the largest regional affiliate of the national ACLU - has a new executive director. The organization announced today that Abdi Soltani, 35, who previously directed several social justice organizations in the Bay Area, took office Wednesday...

Falsely arrested KS pastor wins lawsuit

Posted on April 08, 2009
One News Now: "Later, Holick filed a motion with the court to dismiss charges filed against him, and the court agreed. Holick filed suit with attorneys from the Alliance Defense Fund because there was a question of constitutionally protected free-speech rights...

NY high court to hear homosexual ?rights? cases

Posted on April 08, 2009
One News Now: Jim Campbell, a spokesman for the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), explains the legal proceedings. "ADF has filed a few lawsuits challenging various actions by New York government officials in which they have declared that they will start recognizing out-of-state, same-sex 'marriages,'" he points out.

??Gay marriage? legalized in Iowa?

Posted on April 08, 2009
Florida Baptist Witness: "Douglas Napier, an attorney with the conservative Alliance Defense Fund, called the ruling 'astonishing.' A native Iowan, he has practiced law there for 16 years. 'I don?t think it?s over in Iowa yet. If you look at the track record in the states, 30 out of 30 times when marriage has been put to the people, the people have upheld traditional marriage,' he told Baptist Press...

?What Is Taking Them So Long??

Posted on April 08, 2009
Tips-Q.com: ". . . But apparently the Right's standard talking points about 'activists judges' and 'the will of the people' aren't going to work this this time, now that the Vermont has enacted marriage equality through the legislative process and so it seems as if they are struggling on how to respond...

?Iowa gay marriage ruling spurs calls for marriage amendment?

Posted on April 08, 2009
Church Executive: Groups supporting traditional marriage say they expect the Iowa ruling to prompt other states to seek constitutional marriage amendments. 'This (ruling) will catapult all of those states forward in the marriage amendment process,' said Douglas Napier, senior legal counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund, a Christian legal group, according to the Associated Press...

?Pro-Family Leaders Warn Battle Over Marriage Will Reach Federal Level?

Posted on April 08, 2009
Christian Post: "Alliance Defense Fund, a Christian legal group, said that Vermont's legislative action refutes the argument that civil unions are a satisfactory compromise to protect marriage. 'This move also demonstrates without question that ?civil unions? are never acceptable middle ground,' said ADF senior legal counsel Austin R...

Texas judge allows collection of dead son?s sperm

Posted on April 08, 2009
AP: "A judge has granted a mother's request to have someone harvest sperm from her dead son's body . . . "

Democrat wins Rahm Emanuel?s Ill. Congress seat

Posted on April 08, 2009
AP: "Democrat Mike Quigley knows that for at least a little while he'll be known as the guy who replaced Rahm Emanuel, President Barack Obama's chief of staff, in Congress . . . "

?As gay marriage terrain changes, shrugs across Patchwork Nation?

Posted on April 08, 2009
Christian Science Monitor: "Sometimes issues gain momentum quickly, and the ground under them can move suddenly. So it is with the issue of gay marriage . . . That means in less than a week, the number of states where gay marriage is legal has doubled to four...

?Obama appoints gay man interim ambassador to India?

Posted on April 08, 2009
GayPolitics.com: "Peter Burleigh . . . will serve as America?s top diplomat in India until a permanent ambassador is named, according to reports in the Indian press . . . Burleigh said he was open about his sexuality within the State Department once the policy changed...

?Reparations for gay Americans?

Posted on April 08, 2009
Detroit Free Press: "What is not so clear to me is whether homosexuals will be adequately compensated for their mistreatment. So while I recognize that other battles remain, I think the time has arrived to place economic reparations for gay and lesbian Americans on the political agenda...

Lambda Legal sues NY school for gay-straight alliance

Posted on April 08, 2009
Lambda Legal: "Lambda Legal, with the assistance of Kirkland & Ellis LLP, filed a lawsuit today at the US District Court for the Northern District of New York on behalf of Charlie Pratt, who endured years of antigay harassment during his time at Indian River High School, and his sister, Ashley Petranchuk, a sophomore who is trying to start a gay?straight alliance at the same high school years after her brother left...

Texas Christian University offers special housing based on sexual preference

Posted on April 08, 2009
Dallas Morning News: "Texas Christian University offers special housing for students interested in world affairs. The environment. Foreign languages. And, starting this fall, gay and lesbian issues."

New Virginia Tech ?Diversity? Requirements for Tenure Violate Academic Freedom, Will Be Comprehensively Reviewed by Board of Visitors

Posted on April 08, 2009
FIRE: "After being alerted to mandatory 'diversity' requirements for faculty tenure, promotion, and personal development, the Board of Visitors at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) has agreed to fully review the school's tenure and diversity policies...

HHS conscience rules deadline approaching

Posted on April 08, 2009
"Time is running out to voice opinions on Health and Human Services conscience rules for medical personnel." Thursday is the deadline for public comment.

White House Invites ?Gay and Lesbian Families? to Easter Egg Roll

Posted on April 08, 2009
CBN: "Special tickets for select groups aren't anything new. Last year President Bush invited families of those working with USA Freedom Corps. But the special invitation to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) families makes a unique political statement...

Dem Governor in Iowa breaks silence on marriage with standard party mantra

Posted on April 08, 2009
. . . he ended his silence, saying he was 'reluctant to support amending the Iowa Constitution to add a provision that our Supreme Court has said is unlawful and discriminatory.'

Douglas Napier on Caplis and Silverman: Iowa?s marital breakdown

Posted on April 08, 2009
ADF attorney Douglas Napier appeared on KHOW radio with Caplis & Silverman for a lively discussion regarding Iowa Supreme Court's marriage ruling. The mp3 runs just under 38 minutes.

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