Wisconsin Supreme Court shuts down John Doe investigation, affirms First Amendment
From Watchdog.org, By Eric Boehm / July 16, 2015 –
FILE – In this July 14, 2015 file photo, Republican presidential candidate, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, speaks during a campaign event at a Harley-Davidson dealership in Las Vegas. The Wisconsin Supreme Court on Thursday ended a secret investigation into whether Republican Gov. Scott Walker’s campaign illegally coordinated with conservative groups in winning his 2012 recall election. (AP Photo/John Locher)
The Supreme Court of Wisconsin killed John Doe.
In a ruling issued Thursday morning, the high court ordered an end to a Milwaukee prosecutor’s politically motivated investigation into conservative groups that dragged on for more than three years.
Writing for the majority, Justice Michael Gableman slammed a special prosecutor’s handling of the investigation and praised the unnamed plaintiffs for pushing back against a violation of their First Amendment rights to political speech.
Appeals Court Blocks Health Law’s Contraception Requirement
From WSJ.com, By Joe Palazzolo, Updated Nov. 8, 2013 – A federal appeals court on Friday blocked a provision of the Obama administration’s health-care law requiring employers to provide birth-control coverage in employee insurance, ruling that it imposed a “substantial burden” on religious rights of two Midwestern companies.The move by the Seventh U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago marked the first time a federal appeals court has issued a ruling preventing the federal government from enforcing the provision. Federal appeals courts in Washington, D.C., and Denver have sided with plaintiffs challenging the provision on religious grounds but stopped short of issuing injunctions. Federal appeals courts in Philadelphia and Cincinnati, meanwhile, have sided with the Obama administration.The Supreme Court could decide as soon as this month whether to review some of the cases.Court to feds: Explain Marine’s Facebook-postings arrest
Judge refuses to dismiss law enforcement officers from false-detention lawsuit
From WND.com, 08/03/13 – A federal judge in Richmond, Va., has refused to dismiss from a lawsuit several FBI and Secret Service agents as well as local police officers who arrested a military veteran based on an opinion from a counselor who had never met him that he might be a danger.
The officers had confronted the veteran, Brandon Raub, after he expressed criticism of the U.S. government on a social networking page.
Nancy Klein speaks in-your-face truth
God bless you Nancy Klein for standing with both feet planted on the 1st Amendment.
The following is Nancy’s response to the “Intifada” article below:
by Nancy KleinSoldier Reprimanded for Reading David Limbaugh and Mark Levin
From National Review Online, By Andrew C. McCarthy, June 8, 2013 – The Fourth Amendment has been getting a workout around here this week thanks to the NSA controversy — and my weekend column has another whack at it. But it is the First Amendment that continues to be in real peril — and once again, the U.S. military brass is among the worst offenders.
Appeal blasts judges’ ‘religious phobia’
From WND.com, byBob Unruh, 01/26/13 – An appeals court decision that barred high school students from holding their graduation ceremony at a church building shows “hostility” toward religion and should be reversed by the U.S. Supreme Court, because it violates the U.S. Constitution, charges a team of legal experts.
The Alliance Defending Freedom says the ruling by the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals “mandates hostility to religion and puts the free exercise rights of students at risk.”
School stands firm on ‘God Bless America’
From OneNewsNow, by Bob Kellogg, 8/10/2012 –
An atheist organization is demanding that a Massachusetts high school band stop playing “God Bless America” at school functions because it violates separation of church and state.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is telling Wayland High School officials that playing “God Bless America” is an unconstitutional act.
School folds on effort to eject church group
Superintendent: Pastor’s sermons violated ‘anti-bullying and nondiscrimination policies’
From World Net Daily, Augus4, 2012 – School officials in Miami have called off their effort to terminate a church’s agreement to lease school facilities after determining that the pastor’s expression of biblical beliefs was within the Constitution.
“The school district acknowledges the constitutional right of all persons to express themselves freely. Our firm belief is that, under the law, constitutionally protected freedom of speech for all, including those who lease our facilities, must be observed even when it may be perceived as offensive to some,” said a report from Supt. Alberto Carvalho to the school board.
Liberal officials penalizing free speech
From The Washington Examiner, by Michael Barone, July 26, 2012 – Several conservative writers, notably Michelle Malkin in today’s Washington Examiner, have already criticized ChicagoAlderman Joe Moreno and Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino for their moves to block the fast food restaurant Chick-fil-A from opening outlets in their precincts. Chick-fil-A’s offense: opposition to same-sex marriage. Chick-fil-A was founded by S. Truett Cathy who makes no secret of his espousal of Christian values; unlike other fast food restaurants, it’s not open on Sunday. His son and the firm’s current president Dan Cathy in a recent interview made it clear that he is opposed on religious grounds to same-sex marriage.
FIGHT OVER BIBLE-STUDY PRISON TERM ESCALATES
From WND.com, by Bob Unruh, July 17, 2012 – The Phoenix, Ariz., fight over a Bible study in a man’s home has spilled over into the state Supreme Court, with a writ of habeas corpus filed by Rutherford Institute asking the justices to intervene and release Michael Salman, who was jailed after repeatedly holding Bible studies at his home.
City officials have argued that he’s violating the zoning code for churches, but he’s argued that his Bible study is for friends and family and he shouldn’t be forced to meet any city code that would not also be applied to a meeting of friends for a card game, a Super Bowl party or any other event.
Parker County Blog 