6th Circuit reverses dismissal of lawsuit against Ohio’s Miami University
http://www.alliancedefensefund.org/news/story.aspx?cid=4569
ALLIANCE DEFENSE FUND NEWS RELEASE
June 20, 2008 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT ADF MEDIA RELATIONS: (480) 444-0020 or www.telladf.org/pressroom
6th Circuit reverses dismissal of lawsuit
against Ohio’s Miami University
ADF attorneys represent Christian man silenced by school officials
CINCINNATI — The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit ruled in favor of Alliance Defense Fund attorneys in a free speech case Thursday, reversing a lower court’s ruling which resulted in the dismissal of the case. The lower court ruling upheld a Miami University policy under which a Christian man was barred from exercising his First Amendment rights on campus.
“Christians shouldn’t be penalized for expressing their beliefs,” said ADF Senior Counsel Nate Kellum. “The arbitrary nature of the university’s policy discriminates against Christians who are simply trying to exercise their First Amendment rights.”
On Oct. 14, 2002, Jim Gilles attempted to preach a Christian message to passersby at MU. He and another man were approached by a security officer who informed them that a permit was required to exercise free speech on campus. The men were threatened with arrest if they did not stop speaking and were told that the only permissible free speech areas were on sidewalks and streets outside campus.
A federal judge dismissed the case in April 2007, but ADF attorneys appealed that decision to the 6th Circuit (www.telladf.org/news/story.aspx?cid=4422).
A copy of the opinion issued Thursday by the 6th Circuit in Gilles v. Garland is available at www.telladf.org/UserDocs/GillesWin.pdf.
ADF is a legal alliance of Christian attorneys and like-minded organizations defending the right of people to freely live out their faith. Launched in 1994, ADF employs a unique combination of strategy, training, funding, and litigation to protect and preserve religious liberty, the sanctity of life, marriage, and the family.