Tag Archives: Group: Liberty Institute

Dallas Morning News: Plano’s long-running ‘religious candy cane case’ resurfaced today, when a federal appellate court heard arguments surrounding the responsibility of two school principals named as defendants in a religious-freedom suit . . . ‘We are very encouraged,’ Kelly Shackelford, president of Liberty Institute, said as everyone filtered out of the small, carpeted courtroom. ‘We finally got a day in court to get to the real issues – that elementary school kids do have First Amendment rights.”

Liberty Legal Institute: “A Romanian Orthodox church is wrongfully being taxed by Dallas County, which may cause the church to fold forever, just in time for Easter! Outrageously, the Dallas County Appraisal District denied the congregation a tax-exempt status and has assessed a tax of 30 percent of the church’s annual budget — a church whose members are immigrants and refugees who came to the United States in search of freedom . . . ”

Liberty Legal Institute

One News Now: “Their message was, ‘Keep the concepts of American exceptionalism and preserve the Judeo-Christian values that have had an impact on our law and government. Do not take that kind of information out; don’t take out some of our notable leaders,’ Saenz reports. ‘And a lot of those corrections and changes have been made – a lot of good progress. There’s still some work to be done, and so it’s been very encouraging thus far.’”

Liberty Institute: “Free Market Foundation and Liberty Legal Institute are proud to announce the new face of freedom, Liberty Institute. Effective immediately, the two organizations are joining forces and combining resources to better protect freedoms and strengthen families.”

LibertyInstitute.org

The Quincy Cove: “The question now before the Supreme Court [in Perdue] is whether a reasonable attorney’s fee award under a federal fee-shifting statute ever be enhanced based solely on quality of performance and results obtained when these factors already are included in the lodestar calculation? . . . the Alliance Defense Fund, one of the seven groups that signed the Liberty Brief, said that its attorneys ‘function as private attorneys general, representing clients to vindicate their constitutional rights’ . . . But there’s an even better remedy: Limit the fees that all attorneys can collect in these cases. This sounds counterintuitive to free-market supporters, but let’s remember, attorneys are agents of the state. Restricting even a ‘private’ attorney’s compensation is no different than fixing the salary of any other government bureaucrat.”

ADF attorney Joseph Martins writes at the Center for Academic Freedom Blog: “In 2009, [Joe Mitchell] designed and crafted a few crosses but the College refused to fire the works claiming that the crosses ‘demean[ed]‘ the goals of the class and were as offensive as a ‘swastika.’ Liberty Legal Institute intervened and informed the College that its action violated Mr. Mitchell’s freedom of religion and that he would sue, if necessary, to protect that freedom. Eastfield responded by issuing a letter stating that it had dropped the ban on crosses.”

Texas Insider: “Americans for Prosperity-Texas will be participating in a rally this Wednesday to encourage State Board of Education members to toughen history curriculum standards and put a renewed emphasis on American Exceptionalism.”

FoxNews: “This is the first time the State Board of Education is going to get to vote on this, so you can’t take anything for granted,” said Jonathan Saenz, a lobbyist for the conservative Free Market Foundation. “I think it would be a tragedy if students talk about Martin Luther King Jr., while not being able to talk about the fact that he had a strong Christian faith. I’m hoping that’s not the direction we’re headed.”

NewsOK.com:  ”A Capitol preservation group has decided to place a Ten Commandments monument on the north side of the state Capitol after a law was passed last legislative session allowing the Judeo-Christian monument to be installed on the grounds . . . ”

PRNEWSWIRE: “Just in time for Christmas, Liberty Legal Institute sent a demand letter today on behalf of Joe Mitchell, a retired Dallas resident and student, to Eastfield College in the Dallas County Community College District revealing their unconstitutional attack on religious expression in the classroom . . . Click here to view the demand letter.”

Liberty Legal Institute

ADF attorney Joe Infranco appeared on Point of View Radio with Kerby Anderson to discuss recent oral arguments at the 9th Circuit in the Mt. Soledad Cross case.

The MP3 runs over 8 minutes.

Related ADF Media Information Page

Veterans Memorials Project: ADF, Liberty Legal Institute, American Legion

SaveOurMemorials.com

Liberty Legal Institute

Star-Telegram: “Barbara Ann Radnofsky, a Houston lawyer and Democratic candidate for attorney general, says that a 22-word clause in a 2005 constitutional amendment designed to ban gay marriages erroneously endangers the legal status of all marriages in the state . . . ‘It’s a silly argument,’ said Kelly Shackelford, president of the Liberty Legal Institute in Plano.”

Free Market Foundation Legislative Update: “We testified last week against Travis County’s efforts last week to use $450,000 of taxpayer funds to pay for abortions. Their response by the Travis County Health District after ours and the testimony of many others, was to run and hide . . . ”

Free Market Foundation, Texas Legislative Blog: “As many of you know, there are 11 Texas Constitutional Amendments on the ballot. Early voting continues until October 30th with the general election day on Nov. 3rd. Click here for a link to our Voter Guide. http://www.freemarket.org/Img/2009%20Constitutional%20Amendments”

CitizenLink: “‘The tide of public opinion in favor of religion is receding,’ he said, ‘and this probably portends public pressures for laws that will impinge on religious freedom.’ Groups like the Alliance Defense Fund and Liberty Legal Institute see a similar trend involving all faiths that hold a conservative view of marriage.”

CitizenLink: “Police arrested Mark Frost and Jayson Gardner in Hampton, N.H., in August 2008 and charged them with ‘unreasonable or loud’ noise. While in custody, officers asked the two, ‘Where is your God now?’ Those charges were eventually dropped, but the Alliance Defense Fund has filed a civil suit challenging the restriction.”

CNN: “The implications of the case could extend beyond the Mojave Cross. Individual gravestones are not at issue, but war memorials have long featured religious imagery. ‘There are 5 million veterans that we represent … would be quite shocked and horrified to know that those memorials and the symbols chosen by vets 75 years or 100 years ago would suddenly have to be torn down by a bulldozer,’ said Hiram Sasser, attorney for the Liberty Legal Institute.”

“Liberty Legal has a knack for getting in the middle of newsworthy fights . . .”

“Salazar vs. Buono . . . Erwin Chemerinsky and Joseph Infranco debate the case and its possible implications, including whether any religious symbol should be permitted on government land and who should have the standing to sue over such displays . . . Today’s topic: Who should have standing to sue over displaying religious icons on public land?”

“Salazar vs. Buono . . . Erwin Chemerinsky and Joseph Infranco debate the case and its possible implications, including whether any religious symbol should be permitted on government land and who should have the standing to sue over such displays.”

On October 7th, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments in Salazar v. Buono, No. 08-472.

Fox News carries this transcript from the Hannity Show: “And joining us now with reaction to all of this is Hannah Giles. She posed as the prostitute in the ACORN offices, and her lawyer, Kelly Shackelford, is with us. He is the chief counsel of the Liberty Legal Institute.”

Fox News video here

www.defendhannah.com

El Paso Times: We agree with Jonathan Saenz of the Free Market Foundation: “It’s outrageous that the war on Christmas continues in our state and our nation.”

Dallas Morning News (AP): “A proposal for new social studies curriculum in Texas public schools removes a mention of Christmas in a sixth-grade lesson, replacing it with a Hindu religious festival, a change that has riled conservatives who say it’s another battle in the ‘war’ against the Christian holiday.”

“This past week I spoke with my friend, Kelly Shackelford of the Free Market Foundation about my desire to abolish no-fault divorce and the FMF’s ongoing efforts to do the same in the Texas state legislature.”

Houston Chronicle (AP): “A proposal for new social studies curriculum in Texas public schools removes a mention of Christmas in a sixth-grade lesson, replacing it with a Hindu religious festival, a change that’s riled conservatives who say it’s another battle in the “war” against the Christian holiday.”

Mike Johnson of the Alliance Defense Fund and Kelly Shackelford of the Liberty Legal Institute appeared on Point of View Radio with Kerby Anderson and Penna Dexter to discuss the New Hampshire case involving a homeschooler ordered to public school. They also discuss pending campaign finance litigation at the U.S. Supreme Court involving the so-called Hillary movie and the litigation over a veteran’s cross memorial in the Mojave Desert.

The MP3 runs just over 17 minutes.

ADF Media Information Page: NH court orders home-schooled child into government-run school

ADF Alliance Alert posts related to the Campaign Finance Litigation – Citizens United v. Federal Election Comm’n (FEC)

www.DonTearMeDown.com

ADF Alliance Alert posts related to the Mojave Desert Cross – Salazar v. Buono

Veteran Memorial Project

“Without God there could be no American form of government nor an American way of life. Recognition of the Supreme Being is the first the most basic expression of Americanism.” Dwight D. Eisenhower

Free Market Foundation: “‘As government entities at all levels are looking to make responsible decisions, government resources should not be spent on organizations that stand to profit from failed sex education policies,’ said Jonathan Saenz, legislative director at Free Market Foundation, who testified in the public hearing. ‘We should not ‘bail out’ Planned Parenthood with public funds.’”

Free Market Foundation Blog: “Recently, the City of North Richland Hills (near Fort Worth) received a letter from the Freedom from Religion Foundation, an organization whose goal is to remove religious expression from the public square.”

One News Now: “One of the complaints is that the Navasota school district permits the Gideons to distribute Bibles at its schools. Attorney Roger Byron of Liberty Legal Institute notes the Christian organization has been doing so for decades.”

“The Texas Supreme Court ruled unanimously in favor of a ministry to former prison inmates Friday, determining that zoning regulations passed by the city of Sinton to oust the ministry from town violates the Texas Religious Freedom Restoration Act.”

Free Market Foundation: “We have just received word that Gov. Perry has vetoed SB 1440, which would have allowed Child Protective Services expansive new power to search and seize children and their medical records without consent or notice to parents, without a court hearing, and without “good cause”, in direct violation of a recent federal court of appeals decision.”

One News Now: “Lawyers are providing written arguments in a case in which a cross has been banned at a veteran memorial in the Mojave Desert. The American Civil Liberties Union, or ACLU, filed suit because the cross, which honors soldiers who gave their lives for their country, was on federal property.” Kelly Shackelford of Liberty Legal Institute is quoted and pictured in this report.

“A coalition of conservative and libertarian groups is urging Gov. Rick Perry to veto a bill that would make it easier for Child Protective Services to remove children from a home while investigating possible abuse.”

Nathan Black reports in The Christian Post:

“Tim Chandler, legal counsel of the Alliance Defense Fund, stated, ‘One person’s agenda shouldn’t diminish the sacrifice made by America’s veterans and families.’

‘Americans want these memorials to be protected,” he added. “What is more important: the feelings of a single ‘offended’ person or honoring the memory of thousands of American heroes in a way that has been considered constitutional throughout our nation’s history? If the Mojave cross is not allowed to stand, then numerous other veterans’ memorials are vulnerable to legal attack.’”

AP: “The state bill, approved overwhelmingly last month by the Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Brad Henry, authorizes the placement of a privately funded a 3-by-6-foot Ten Commandments monument on the State Capitol grounds. It also authorizes the attorney general or the Liberty Legal Institute, a Texas-based legal advocacy group, to defend the monument if it’s challenged in court.”

One News Now: Jonathan Saenz of the Free Market Foundation says . . . “What these legislators were attempting to do was drastically change the way sex education was taught in our state — and it was a real attack on abstinence education,” he contends. “One of the amendments…was going to ban students from knowing that abstinence before marriage is the most effective way to prevent pregnancy and STDs.”

The Texas Republic News Blog: “Texas law currently requires that students be taught that ‘abstinence before marriage is the most effective way to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.’”

Church Executive:
The Liberty Legal Institute, meanwhile, cautions that liberal groups are engaged in a national campaign filing IRS complaints against pastors. “They sound very confident and file many complaints yet none are found valid even by the IRS,” said Shackelford. Erik Stanley, senior legal counsel with the Alliance Defense Fund, a Christian legal firm, also says the Texas case reveals attempts by “radical groups bent on squelching any church involvement in societal affairs” to use the IRS as an advocacy tool. “While the outcome of this case was good, the history of the case and the IRS’ investigation demonstrate that the tax code must be changed to prohibit these attacks on churches,” Stanley told The Christian Post, noting that the IRS continues to issue increasingly vague guidance.

This liberal attempt to intimidate pastors has backfired,” said Kelly Shackelford, chief counsel of Liberty Legal Institute which represented event organizers. “There is now a clear IRS statement outlining these pastors’ events and approving them as valid under the law.” . . .

LifeSite reports: “The Internal Revenue Service has found that pastors who gathered for a series of public policy conferences did so within their rights, and did not violate tax laws governing non-profit organizations, Liberty Legal Institute announced today.”

Religion Clause Blog: “AP reported yesterday that the Oklahoma House of Representatives, by a vote of 83-2, has passed HB 1330, the Ten Commandments Monument Display Act [full text, Word doc].” The law provides: “In the event that the legality or constitutionality of the Ten Commandments monument is challenged in a court of law, the Oklahoma Attorney General or Liberty Legal Institute is hereby authorized to prepare and present a legal defense of the monument.”

The Dallas Morning News: “The bill drew praise from Jonathan Saenz, legislative director of the Free Market Foundation. The conservative group opposes embryonic stem cell research, saying work with adult stem cells is sufficient to find cures and therapies for chronic disease. ‘It’s extremely important for the state of Texas to have reporting on these things,’ he said.”

LifeNews: “HB 3318 would reduce the crime of infanticide from capital murder to a state jail felony and the measure could receive a vote soon in the Texas House of Representatives.”

Austin American-Statesman:
“In January, the board voted to move away from that language but approved standards requiring students to study the “sufficiency or insufficiency” of evolutionary theory. The board also approved other changes that qualify statements about evolution and the Earth’s creation.

Some board members have said they want the standards to require a more critical approach to the teaching of evolution, saying that the theory that species evolved from a common ancestry lacks the empirical data required to be taught without discussion of any insufficiencies.

“The board’s decision is very simple: Are you for science or censorship? Are you for scientific progress or a ban on critical discussion?” said Jonathan Saenz, director of legislative affairs at Free Market Foundation, a Plano-based conservative lobbying group.”

Stop the ACLU: “One person’s agenda shouldn’t diminish the sacrifices made by America’s veterans and their families,” said ADF Senior Counsel Joe Infranco. “The ACLU claims to be ‘the foremost defender of the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights.’ Most Americans know, however, that title really belongs to the veterans whose memorial the ACLU is attacking.”

Joe Infranco: “The ACLU claims to be ‘the foremost defender of the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights.’ Most Americans know, however, that title really belongs to the veterans whose memorial the ACLU is attacking.”

Becket Fund: “Today (March 18, 2009) a coalition of a dozen religious and civil rights groups asked a Michigan appeals court to release a Christian minister put on house arrest because he claimed God would punish the judge who sentenced him.”

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit Monday upheld a Texas law allowing students to observe one minute of silence following the Pledge of Allegiance.

“A federal appeals court panel has upheld a Texas law that calls for schoolchildren to have a moment of silence during which they can pray, reflect or meditate.”

Religion Clause Blog reports on the case of Shatkin v. University of Texas at Arlington, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 18018 (ND TX, March 10, 2009), involving free exercise claims by two employees fired from the U. of Texas for praying for a co-employee …

ADF Senior Counsel Jordan Lorence: “The government does not endorse the religious speech of individuals merely by permitting it in public places.”

ADF attorney Jordan Lorence and Kelly Shackleford of Liberty Legal Institute appeared on Point of View of Radio to discuss recent events that are harmful to families and dangerous Presidential nominees. The mp3 runs just over 18 minutes. Related: Alan …

Citizen Link has this report that begins: Law professors at Harvard, Chicago, the University of Michigan and Stanford have given 100 percent of their 2008 election contributions to Democratic candidates. Furthermore, an overview of 17 top law schools shows faculty …

The Houston Chronicle reports: Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott was supposed to settle a dispute over whether public schools must offer a course in Biblical study, but his opinion Thursday created more confusion. Yes, schools are required to offer a …

WorldNetDaily reports: The American Civil Liberties Union is asking the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to stop a suburban Atlanta county from opening its meetings with prayers that mention “Jesus” or other “sectarian” references, claiming the invocations represent government …

The Free Market Foundation has issued this press release that begins: In response to the Texas State Board of Education’s (10-5) vote today to approve curriculum standards and TEKS (requirements) for Bible electives offered in Texas high schools, Free Market …

The Free Market Foundation has issued a press release indicating: WHAT: The Texas State Board of Education will be hearing testimony today on the current TEKS for Bible electives to be taught in Texas high schools. Just last week, the …

Liberty Legal Institute has issued this press release. It reports: “Free Market Foundation a Texas-based, pro-family group with both a legislative and legal division (Liberty Legal Institute). The force of legal experts is enlisting 10,000 Texans to help launch a …

“Sexual orientation” and “transgender” laws are exactly that. The government now will tell you your morality. Even if an exemption is provided for houses of worship, none is provided for religious individuals.

Liberty Legal Institute has issued this press release: LIBERTY LEGAL INSTITUTE Headquarters: 903 East 18th Street, Suite 230 * Plano, TX 75074 Phone: 972-423-8889 ext 102, Fax: (972) 423-8899 MEDIA CONTACT: Nicole Hay 972-423-8889 ext 102 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June …

LifeNews.com reports: Leading pro-life advocates say one of the top considerations for John McCain for a vice-presidential running mate should be left off of his short list. They’re concerned Florida Gov. Charlie Crist isn’t sufficiently pro-life and not motivate the …

ADF attorney Erik Stanley appeared on Point of View Radio with Kerby Anderson to discuss the right of pastors to speak on moral issues. Kelly Shackelford of Liberty Legal Institute is co-host. The mp3 file is here. It runs just …

In its amicus brief, LLI warns the Court of Appeals to apply a standard of strict scrutiny when determining whether to take custody of a child away from his/her parent, unless the state presents evidence to establish sexual exploitation or abuse exists.

A Fort Worth Judge is ordering all church members of Elm Grove Baptist Church to appear in district court today and vote upon removing their pastor.

By sending [a] complaint letter [about a Texas pastor] on March 6, 2008, we believe AU was intervening in a campaign by intentionally attempting to chill the speech of a supporter of a candidate in an effort to both chill the pastor and harm the candidate’s campaign,” said a letter to the IRS from the Houston Area Pastor Council.

Jordan Lorence of ADF and Kelly Shackelford of the Liberty Legal Institute appeared on Point of View Radio on April 11th to discuss the California Home School litigation ruling. The mp3 file is here and runs just over 17 minutes.

“Today, the Houston Area Pastors Council (HAPC), represented by the Liberty Legal Institute, sent a letter to the IRS accusing the Americans United for Separation of Church and State (AU) of attempting to influence elections.”

The potential for freedom-of-religion claims in the removal cases makes Hiram Sasser, director of litigation for the Plano, Texas-based Liberty Legal Institute, shudder.

But some Christian parents in the area are concerned their children will bused in to hear from the world-recognized Tibetan Buddhist leader . . . Hiram Sasser, the director of litigation with the Liberty Legal Institute, says there is no cause for concern — at least legally . . . .

Family News in Focus reports reports on efforts to undermine Bible courses in Texas public schools. It quotes, Jonathan Saenz is an attorney and legislative director for the Free Market Foundation: “I think its absolutely clear that they want to …

The city’s request for the full 10th Circuit to review the ruling failed by a 6-6 vote, with Judge Michael McConnell, a longtime expert on religion-clause jurisprudence, warning that “every park in the country” with a Veterans of Foreign Wars memorial had been transformed into a public forum for monuments.

Pastor Roy Frady of Willowcreek Fellowship church is sending a letter today demanding the City of Plano rescind its decision to him use of the Council Chambers on the National Day of Prayer . . .

“This is a great victory for ECISD and the community,” Hiram Sasser, Liberty Legal’s director of litigation, said in a statement.