Free Republic

A federal judge in Massachusetts has ordered the "gay" agenda taught to Christians who attend a public school in Massachusetts, finding that they need the teachings to be "engaged and productive citizens." U.S. District Judge Mark L. Wolf yesterday dismissed a civil rights lawsuit brought by David Parker, ordering that it is reasonable, indeed there is an obligation, for public schools to teach young children to accept and endorse homosexuality. Wolf essentially adopted the reasoning in a brief submitted by a number of homosexual-advocacy groups, who said "the rights of religious freedom and parental control over the upbringing of children...

The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has blocked enforcement of a state law that requires voters to show identification and would-be voters to submit proof of citizenship when registering to vote. The general election is Nov. 7, The law had already been used for the Sept. 12 primary and in some municipal elections. State Atty. Gen. Terry Goddard said he would appeal.

COLUMBUS, Ohio, September 29, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A US federal judge overturned an Ohio Law restricting the abortion pill RU-486, calling it “unconstitutionally vague” and that it failed to include a significant health exception. The law had intended to regulate RU-486 (or mifepristone) according to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) protocols, which would have made it illegal for doctors to prescribe the drug after the seventh week of pregnancy.US District Judge Susan Dlott ruled Wednesday in agreement with Planned Parenthood that the law regulating mifepristone was “unconstitutionally vague”, and violated due process rights under the 14th amendment, which “prohibits...

PM's pick for bench draws fire Social activists cite conservative views KIRK MAKIN JUSTICE REPORTER -- The appointment of an Ontario judge who is seen as an opponent of pro-choice and gay rights has created a stir among social activists. Spokesmen expressed concerns yesterday about the appointment of Mr. Justice David Brown, a Toronto lawyer who has represented Christian family-value positions in several cases, and has written papers dealing with legal developments involving the sanctity of life. Judge Brown will sit on the Ontario Superior Court bench in the Toronto region. "What we are seeing is something we predicted: The...

ATLANTA (AP) — A judge has permanently blocked enforcement of Georgia’s law requiring voters to show photo ID.

In a rather bizarre ruling that has marine industry officials worried, Judge Robert G. James of the United States District Court, Western Division of Louisiana, has said that it is criminal trespass for the American boating public to boat, fish, or hunt on the Mississippi River and other navigable waters in the US. In the case of Normal Parm v. Sheriff Mark Shumate, James ruled that federal law grants exclusive and private control over the waters of the river, outside the main shipping channel, to riparian landowners. The shallows of the navigable waters are no longer open to the public....

A federal district judge in Detroit has ruled that the Bush administration's NSA surveillance of phone conversations is unconstitutional.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday overturned part of a Texas congressional map engineered by former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay. Challengers — Democrats and minority groups — had asked the court to declare the redrawn districts unconstitutional. Republicans said the new map better reflects the voting patterns of the state and deny minority voting rights were violated.

A circuit judge in St. Louis has sentenced a woman who turned in voter registration cards in the name of dead local politicians to probation, community service and relaxation training using transcendental meditation. Michelle Robinson, 36, pleaded guilty Friday on charges of 13 violations of election law and of possession of crack cocaine and a crack pipe. Robinson worked for a campaign called Operation Big Vote that aimed to boost the participation of black voters in the 2001 St. Louis mayoral election. But some of the cards she turned in on Feb. 7, 2001, were made out in the names...

A federal judge ordered the U.S. Forest Service to diversify its work force in California, ruling that the agency has failed to eliminate hiring and promotional barriers to Hispanics as required by a 2002 court agreement. Hispanics only make up about 9 percent of the forest service's 5,000-member work force that manages 18 national forests in California. That's about the same percentage as it was in October 2002 when a lawsuit accusing the agency of discrimination was settled, U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken of Oakland said Thursday. Wilken said the agency has failed to conduct an effective recruitment and outreach...

Mike Herchenbach was sure he would get a fine. He’d pay a couple hundred dollars, like his roommates, and go on with his life, even though he wasn’t at the party that got out of hand at his rental house. After all, his name was on the lease. But what he didn’t expect, and hardly believed, was what Lancaster County Court Judge Gale Pokorny had in mind as his punishment for maintaining a disorderly house last Oct. 2. Herchenbach remembered his attorney from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln reaching for a work-release form, which would get him out of jail so...

Md. Judge Strikes Down Gay-Marriage Ban (AP) BALTIMORE A judge on Friday struck down a 33-year-old Maryland law against same-sex marriage, agreeing with 19 gay men and women that it violates the state constitution's guarantee of equal rights. The ruling by Judge M. Brooke Murdock rejected a state argument that the government had a legitimate interest in protecting the traditional family unit of heterosexual parents. "Although tradition and societal values are important, they cannot be given so much weight that they alone will justify a discriminatory" law, she wrote. The judge immediately stayed her order to give the state time...

The Florida Supreme Court struck down a statewide voucher system Thursday that allowed children to attend private schools at taxpayer expense - a program Gov. Jeb Bush considered one of his proudest achievements. It was the nation's first statewide voucher program. In a 5-2 ruling, the high court said the program violates the Florida Constitution's requirement of a uniform system of free public education. About 700 children are attending private or parochial schools through the program. But the ruling will not become effective until the end of the school year. Voucher opponents had also argued that the program violated the...

TALLLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- The Florida Supreme Court has struck down the state's school voucher system that paid for some students to attend private schools.

Indiana House of Representatives can't have clergy mention savior -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Posted: December 29, 2005 2:50 p.m. Eastern -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- © 2005 WorldNetDaily.com An Indian federal judge yesterday reaffirmed his decision to forbid prayers to be offered that use Jesus' name in the state House of Representatives. U.S. District Judge David Hamilton rejected a request by Republican House Speaker Brian Bosma to review the original Nov. 30 ruling. Bosma claimed the directive was too vague to enforce. Ruling on a suit brought by the Indiana Civil Liberties Union, Hamilton said that "using Christ's name or title" or referring to a "savior" amounted...

PHOENIX — Republican officeholders critical of a federal judge's decision to fine the state heavily if it doesn't improve programs for students learning English are pointing a finger of blame at illegal immigration. The judge's order in a 13-year-old lawsuit would impose daily fines starting at $500,000 and rising to $2 million on the state if the Legislature fails to adequately fund programs for an estimated 160,000 children attending Arizona public schools. Arizona has become the busiest entry point on the southern border for illegal immigrants, and concerns related to illegal immigration are being increasingly voiced in connection with public-policy...

Little Rock -- The Arkansas Supreme Court ordered the state Thursday to fix deficiencies in school funding by late 2006, ruling that reforms made after the court stepped in three years ago are not enough. In a 5-2 ruling, the justices did not order specific funding levels but said legislators were wrong to freeze school spending at $5,400 per student this year, and "grossly underfunded" improvements to school buildings and equipment. A special session of the Legislature will be needed if the state is to meet the court deadline. The next regular session of the Legislature, which meets every other...

Judge Denies Firearms Industry Motion to Dismiss New York City Case Decision Will Be Appealed Immediately A federal judge in New York City today ruled that the city may ignore federal law and proceed with its frivolous lawsuit against firearms companies. Industry defendants had filed a motion to dismiss the suit after Congress passed the “Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act” in October. While the new law was intended to protect firearms industry companies from lawsuits like New York’s, Eastern District Judge Jack B. Weinstein opted to deny the motion and side with the city. Firearms industry defendants plan...

A Contra Costa County school was educating seventh-graders about Islam, not indoctrinating them, in role-playing sessions in which students used Muslim names and recited language from prayers, a federal appeals court ruled Thursday. The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a lawsuit by two Christian students and their parents, who accused the Byron Union School District of unconstitutionally endorsing a religious practice. "The Islam program activities were not overt religious exercises that raise Establishment Clause concerns,'' the three-judge panel said, referring to the First Amendment ban on government sanctioning a religion. During the history course at Excelsior School in...

A new Missouri law that limits abortions is constitutional, but only with judicial limitations that protect free speech, a Jackson County judge ruled Thursday. Circuit Judge Charles Atwell also ordered an injunction that prohibits enforcement of the law pending a ruling by a higher court. Lawyers say the case will go directly to the Missouri Supreme Court. The law would expose people to civil lawsuits if they “intentionally cause, aid, or assist” girls under 18 to get an abortion without parental consent or without a court order waiving the requirement. The new law allows civil lawsuits against offenders who also...