Law & Court

Did Gov. Bobby Jindal censor Westboro Baptist’s free speech?

By Sara Weissman — July 29, 2015
(RNS) In response to the Louisiana governor's order barring Westboro protesters from the funerals of two shooting victims, church leader Benjamin Phelps said in a YouTube video that “God sent the shooter.”

Muslim cabbie sues for right to wear religious garb

By Denise Hollinshed — December 14, 2012

ST. LOUIS (RNS) A Muslim taxicab driver is suing the city of St. Louis, the Metropolitan Taxicab Commission and a private security company, saying he has been harassed and arrested because he insists on wearing religious garb. By Denise Hollinshed.

Update: Evangelical grad student settles with university

By Adelle M. Banks — December 12, 2012

(RNS) A graduate student who was expelled from Eastern Michigan University after citing her faith when she declined to advise a gay client has settled her case with the school. By Adelle M. Banks.

Orthodox rabbis laud conviction of Hasidic man on sexual abuse charges

By Lauren Markoe — December 11, 2012

(RNS) A prominent group of Orthodox rabbis is applauding the conviction of a Hasidic rabbi on sex abuse charges, and denouncing efforts of some Orthodox Jews to hide sexual abuse within their communities. By Lauren Markoe.

Both sides brace for Supreme Court battle on gay marriage

By Richard Wolf — December 10, 2012

WASHINGTON (RNS) The Supreme Court's long-awaited decisions to hear challenges to the federal Defense of Marriage Act and California's Proposition 8 ban on same-sex marriage move the issue to the top of the national agenda following a year in which advocates scored major legal and political victories. By Richard Wolf / USA Today.

Court upholds Indiana’s ban on secular wedding officiants

By Kimberly Winston — December 4, 2012

(RNS) A federal court in Indiana has rejected atheists' requests to preside at wedding ceremonies, saying only clergy or public officials are licensed to solemnize marriages. By Kimberly Winston.

Court says Catholic businessman can fight contraception mandate

By Robert Patrick / St. Louis Post-Dispatch — November 29, 2012

ST. LOUIS (RNS) A federal appeals court in St. Louis on Wednesday temporarily blocked the enforcement of the 2010 health care reform law's contraception mandate while a St. Louis business owner appeals a lower court's ruling. By Robert Patrick.

Judge blocks holiday displays in Santa Monica after atheist-Christian spat

By Doug Stanglin — November 20, 2012

(RNS) A federal judge on Monday (Nov. 19) denied a bid by churches to force city officials in Santa Monica, Calif., to reopen spaces in a city park to private displays, including life-sized Christmas Nativity scenes. By Doug Stanglin.

Okla. judge defends sentencing teenager to church even if it’s not legal

By Greg Horton — November 19, 2012

MUSKOGEE, Okla. (RNS) A district judge in Oklahoma who sentenced a 17-year-old boy to 10 years of church attendance is standing by his sentence as the right thing to do -- even if it may not have been the constitutional thing to do. By Greg Horton.

Controversial ‘Mojave Cross’ to return to Calif. desert

By Adelle M. Banks — November 6, 2012

(RNS) A war memorial cross that has been the center of a legal battle for more than a decade will be re-erected within California’s Mojave National Preserve on Veterans Day but it will be located on private land. By Adelle M. Banks.
 

Mass. Supreme Court to hear case against ‘under God’ in Pledge of Allegiance

By Kimberly Winston — October 30, 2012

(RNS) Massachusetts' Supreme Judicial Court has agreed to hear the appeal of a non-religious family that's challenging the mandatory daily recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance in their children’s classrooms. By Kimberly Winston.

Family Research Council shooter charged with terrorism

By Jeanie Groh — October 25, 2012

WASHINGTON (RNS) A federal grand jury added terrorism to the list of charges faced by the Virginia man who was indicted in the shooting of a security guard at the conservative Family Research Council's Washington offices. By Jeanie Groh.

Monks win latest court battle in bid to sell caskets

By Richard A. Webster — October 24, 2012

NEW ORLEANS (RNS) A federal appeals court smacked down the Louisiana funeral board's continued attempts to prevent a group of Catholic monks from selling their hand-crafted caskets. By Richard A. Webster.

Judge: Billy Graham Evangelistic Association didn’t discriminate against black employee

By Adelle M. Banks — October 10, 2012

(RNS) A North Carolina judge has ruled the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association did not discriminate against a black woman employee. By Adelle M. Banks.

Oregon dentist fined for pressuring employee to attend Scientology seminar

By Molly Young / The Oregonian — October 8, 2012

BEND, Ore. (RNS) State labor officials have ordered a dentist to pay nearly $348,000 to settle allegations that he threatened to fire a dental assistant unless she attended a Scientology-related training session. By Molly Young.

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