Tag Archives: ADF: Press Releases

OneNewsNow.com: But Alliance Defense Fund attorney Bryon Babione maintains that she was fired because she took a stand for her faith. “The right to refer is a pervasive right in counseling, and she followed that, but she was nevertheless laid off for doing that,” he says. “They said it was inappropriate that she told the client that she had personal beliefs which would not allow her to effectively counsel that particular client.”

ABA Journal: Alliance Defense Fund Senior Counsel Byron Babione, who represented Walden, said he was disappointed in the ruling. “It is unlawful to punish a Christian for abiding by her faith, particularly when she made every effort to accommodate the interests of a potential client,” he said in a statement. “We are determining next steps to ultimately vindicate Marcia and the freedoms for which she’s fighting.”

Defenders of marriage in California will appeal Tuesday’s ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit that upheld a district judge’s decision against the state’s constitutional amendment protecting marriage.

How Appealing links to more coverage of the ruling. __________________ The following quote may be attributed to Alliance Defense Fund Senior Counsel Byron Babione regarding the decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit today in Walden v. Centers …

he Alliance Defense Fund Tuesday officially made public its report to Congress identifying waste, abuse, and potential fraud by Planned Parenthood affiliates across the nation that may amount to multiple millions of dollars in wasted taxpayer money.

OneNewsNow.com: We talked with the school district, and they realized that their policies were unconstitutional [and] needed to change, and so they have fortunately drafted new policies that make sure that all religious speech is treated equally and that our client, in this case A.W., has the right to invite her friends [at school] to church activities …,” details Matt Sharp, ADF litigation staff counsel.

Todaysthv.com: “All students should have the freedom to express their beliefs. The Constitution clearly prohibits bans that single out a religious viewpoint,” said ADF Litigation Staff Counsel Matt Sharp. “This settlement means that fliers for ‘church-related’ activities will be treated with the same respect given to fliers for numerous other community programs and events.”

ADF submitted legal opinion letter to Forest Service, will offer to defend memorial if attacked in court

Mandatory public, private school classes with graphic, church-bashing content
caused public outcry, lawsuit

In the wake of a federal court order that halted a Pulaski County Special School District flier policy, district officials have settled a lawsuit with Alliance Defense Fund attorneys representing a 3rd-grade student and her mother who had been denied permission to distribute fliers for church-sponsored activities.

ADF, allies seek new court order after city’s decision to replace one bad law with another

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit ruled Friday in favor of Julea Ward, an Eastern Michigan University graduate student represented by Alliance Defense Fund attorneys who was expelled from a counseling program for her beliefs. In a strongly worded opinion, the court reversed a district court decision in favor of the university and sent the case back for trial, saying “a reasonable jury could conclude that Ward’s professors ejected her from the counseling program because of hostility toward her speech and faith….”

Chemeketa Community College revises policies after interaction with ADF attorneys representing pro-life students

ADF files suit for censoring Christian club’s flier as too ‘religious’

Alliance Defense Fund attorneys will be available for media interviews Sunday during the 2012 Students for Life of America National Conference. Media may attend by special arrangement or via live video feed.

ADF lawsuit says policy requiring fees, waiting period to engage in free speech is unconstitutional

The U.S. Supreme Court declined Tuesday to clear up conflicting positions among various appellate courts regarding the historical practice of offering prayers at public meetings according to the faith of the prayer-giver.

ADF, HSLDA say changes would violate int’l legal standards on human rights

Discriminatory policies will eject churches from communities citywide
by Feb. 12, growing coalition continues protests

Two pregnancy help centers will help defend South Dakota’s law that protects women from being coerced into an abortion. A federal court granted a motion, filed by Alliance Defense Fund allied attorney Harold Cassidy . . .

ADF files suit in federal court to defend professor’s academic freedom

Doctor-prescribed death is illegal under Hawaii law despite what a pro-death group has argued, according to a newly authored legal opinion issued by Hawaii Attorney General David Louie to Sen. Josh Green, M.D.

ADF seeks review of 9th Circuit ruling that upheld ban on all religious, Western Civ. texts from objective study in every public school, university

Alliance Defense Fund Legal Counsel Matt Bowman will be available for media interviews following a court hearing Thursday in the case of 12 nurses being forced to assist with abortions at a New Jersey hospital.

A federal court issued an order Tuesday that prevents the city of Duluth from enforcing a First Amendment ban on people desiring to share their faith at a city park during the “Bentleyville Tour of Lights” event.

An Alliance Defense Fund lawsuit has led to official recognition for a student-led Christian club at the Hicksville Union Free School District, which originally refused to recognize the club.

ADF sends letter to Tuscumbia school officials threatened by Americans United for Separation of Church and State

Alliance Defense Fund attorneys filed a petition Wednesday with the U.S. Supreme Court that asks it to weigh in on a ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit against Christian student organizations at San Diego State University.

ADF attorney will participate in press conference after oral arguments
concerning motions to throw out trial, recall videotapes

Alliance Defense Fund Senior Counsel Steven H. Aden will be available for media interviews following oral argument before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit in Choice v. Greenstein. Aden will assist co-counsel for the Louisiana Secretary of Health in arguing to uphold a district court decision that threw out the lawsuit, which was filed by abortion clinics that oppose a state law requiring them to meet certain patient health and safety regulations.

The full U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit Monday agreed to review the only remaining provision of South Dakota’s informed consent law that the court has not already upheld in a failing lawsuit filed by Planned Parenthood. The provision requires women to be informed of abortion’s documented risk of suicide.

TimberCreek Bed and Breakfast accused of violating Human Rights Act for hosting weddings, not ‘civil unions’

Alliance Defense Fund Senior Counsel Steven H. Aden will provide expert testimony Tuesday at 1 p.m. EST before a subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee in favor of a bill that would ban all abortions committed on the basis of a child’s sex or race.

The U.S. Supreme Court declined Monday to review a more-than-16-year legal battle over a New York City “unequal access” policy.

»The Catholic Review Online: “The hospital is threatening to impose discriminatory transfers or changes in the employment conditions for these nurses because of their religious and moral objections to abortion,” he said. “Such discrimination against pro-life nurses violates state and federal law, the court’s order in this case and even the hospital’s own public statements saying that no nurse must assist in procedures to which they object.”

Texas court refuses to issue immediate order that would prevent recall election against mayor, two council members

Trenton Monitor: But the term “assisting in an abortion” covers a wide range of moral, ethical and religious ground said Demetrios Stratis, a Fair Lawn attorney who is the local counsel. Any action that facilitates the abortion – from filling out forms, to being present at the procedure to holding a patient’s hand during the procedure – could be considered assisting, Stratis told the press. Matt Bowman, an attorney with the Alliance Defense Fund, a coalition of Christian lawyers and organizations that is representing the nurses, said that previously the hospital hired per-diem nurses or those who volunteered to assist with abortions to help perform them. [more quotes]

The Washington Post: Bowman argued that requiring the nurses to get involved before and after an abortion violated their right to refuse based on their conscientious objections. “Federal and state law explicitly prohibits requiring nurses to assist in abortion against their moral and religious convictions,” Bowman said. “All these nurses are asking is that they not have to assist in any part of an abortion case.” . . . “The more regulations that exist to enforce federal law protecting conscience rights, the better,” Bowman said

The Supreme Court of British Columbia has ruled that the government of Canada may continue to prohibit polygamy and polyamory–a decision that rejects an approach that could have had far-reaching effects on marriage throughout Canada and other countries.

Alliance Defense Fund attorneys representing 12 pro-life nurses filed a motion for an emergency court order Friday against the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. In violation of an existing court order, UMDNJ is attempting to force the nurses into meetings that would impose discriminatory job “transfer” and other “changes” to their employment solely because of their objections to helping with abortions.

Alliance Defense Fund attorneys representing an El Paso church and its pastor filed suit in federal court Thursday to have a Texas election law struck down as unconstitutional. El Paso Mayor John Cook has been using the law to prevent churches from circulating petitions that seek to recall him from office.

The California Supreme Court issued an opinion Thursday that means the ProtectMarriage.com legal team, including Alliance Defense Fund attorneys, will likely be allowed to continue defending the state’s marriage amendment in federal court.

Attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund together with the Center for Arizona Policy, the Bioethics Defense Fund, and the Life Legal Defense Foundation defended the law.

OneNewsNow.com: The 1974 Church Amendment and the 2005 Hyde-Weldon Conscience Law prohibits violations of religious and moral beliefs. The Alliance Defense Fund sought and received a temporary order to halt the practice until the case is resolved.

OneNewsNow.com: Giving women the information they need before such a weighty decision is clearly more important than an abortionist’s bottom line,” contends ADF attorney Steven H. Aden. “Those attacking this law are obviously more concerned about financial gain from abortion than the best interests of women and their pre-born children.”

News from Missouri Family Policy Council: The Alliance Defense Fund is representing the nurses in the case. Matt Bowman, legal counsel for ADF, says the hospital’s actions are “flatly illegal.” “These twelve nurses have encountered threats to their jobs at this hospital ever since the policy change required them to participate in abortions regardless of their religious and moral objections.” [more]

Christian Post: The Alliance Defense Fund, the legal firm defending the nurses, estimates that the university receives about $60 million annually in federal funds.

Washington Examiner: Matt Bowman, an attorney with the Alliance Defense Fund, a coalition of Christian lawyers and organizations that is representing the nurses, said the hospital had previously hired per-diem nurses or those who volunteered to assist with abortions to help perform them. Bowman said the hospital notified nurses in writing in September that its new policy would require same-day surgery unit nurses to assist in abortions. The nurses filed suit on Oct. 31, claiming the hospital was compelling them to undergo training that involved assisting in abortions, and indicated they could be subject to termination if they didn’t comply.

ADF Attorney Matt Bowman at National Review Online: As we all know from politics, and from our childhood, real trouble comes not so much from breaking the rules but from lying to cover it up. Yet that’s exactly what the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey is doing to cover up its illegal insistence that nurses assist in abortions, in violation of their religious and moral beliefs.

Austin pro-life centers can refrain from posting signs declaring that they do not provide abortions and other services while the city takes a closer look at its problematic law that requires the signs.

Several of the 12 nurses who recently filed suit to stop a New Jersey hospital from forcing them to help with abortions will participate in a press conference Monday at 1 p.m. EST. Joining the nurses will be U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) . . .

A federal court ruled Tuesday that the state of New York violated the First Amendment when it rejected a pro-adoption group’s application to sponsor a “Choose Life” specialty license plate as part of a state program.

ADF, Jubilee Campaign file motion to intervene in defense of state law being attacked by ACLU, Planned Parenthood

A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order Thursday that prohibits a New Jersey hospital from forcing any of 12 nurses that sued the facility to participate in training or services related to abortions. The order, which the hospital agreed to, is in effect until the court decides whether to issue any additional order at a Nov. 18 hearing.

Atlantic City will no longer enforce a city ordinance that police used to stop a man from engaging in religious speech on the city’s boardwalk in June.

Twelve nurses represented by Alliance Defense Fund attorneys filed suit Monday against their employer, a hospital run by the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, for requiring them to participate in abortions. Federal and state law both protect them from being forced to do so.

Lambda Legal provided inaccurate legal information to officials so students can join sexually focused clubs without parental permission

U.S. Supreme Court allows ruling against memorial trooper crosses to stand

Award honors ‘significant efforts in promoting and defending religious liberty…and constitutional originalism’

4th Circuit ruling on invocations conflicts with other courts, American history

ADF letter to Cheatham County School District says no settlement can ban private religious activities of teachers

The Alliance Defense Fund sent a letter Friday to Clay County School District officials informing them that voluntary faculty participation in a community-led, before-school prayer event is protected by the First Amendment despite the objections of the Freedom From Religion Foundation.

A Texas school district was right to reject an atheist group’s demand that it cancel a non-religious school assembly just because the presenters were Christians, according to a letter sent to the district Monday by the Alliance Defense Fund.

lliance Defense Fund attorneys representing a community-led Christian club for students filed suit Friday against an Oklahoma school district after it revoked the club’s ability to publicize its events as other community groups are allowed to do and discouraged the club from promoting itself anywhere in the community, including through the media.

Alliance Defense Fund Senior Legal Counsel Joel Oster will be available for media interviews following a hearing Monday that concerns El Paso Mayor John Cook’s attempt to stop a recall election against him and two city council members.

A federal court issued an order Thursday that prohibits the Pocono Mountain School District from continuing to stop a student from distributing fliers that invite other students to church parties and other religious events.

ADF-allied attorney represents Md. heart attack victim who said, ‘I want to live,’ but had food, water cut off

The case could be the third major controversy involving such crosses to head to the U.S. Supreme Court in recent years and is the fourth recent federal case–all of which has led to increased public discussion on the subject.

Public school students across the nation will peacefully express their views about abortion

Thomas Messner at the Heritage Foundation: According to Ward’s attorney: Rather than allow Julea to refer a potential client to another qualified counselor—a common, professional practice to best serve clients—EMU attacked and questioned Julea’s religious beliefs and ultimately expelled her from the program because of them.

Document calls for nations to ensure laws and policies protect human life

Christian Civic League of Maine: Following Tuesday’s hearing, Jeremy Tedesco, an attorney for the conservative Alliance Defense Fund, said he believes the Appeals Court will overturn the ruling because it violated Ward’s First Amendment rights.
”Ultimately, the university has a really tough battle here,” Tedesco told FoxNews.com. “The bottom line to us is that this is very clear violation of her First Amendment rights in a couple of different contexts.”

Attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund filed a counterclaim Friday against the mayor of El Paso, Texas in a lawsuit the mayor initiated against Tom Brown Ministries, the Word of Life Church of El Paso, El Pasoans for Traditional Family Values, and other local citizens

Attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund and two pro-life organizations filed a lawsuit Thursday on behalf of Austin LifeCare, a pregnancy resource center, against the city of Austin.

Fox News: Following Tuesday’s hearing, Jeremy Tedesco, an attorney for the conservative Alliance Defense Fund, said he believes the Appeals Court will overturn the ruling because it violated Ward’s First Amendment rights. “Ultimately, the university has a really tough battle here,” Tedesco told FoxNews.com. “The bottom line to us is that this is very clear violation of her First Amendment rights in a couple of different contexts.”