Tag Archives: State: Virginia

The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports: “Addressing the license plate issue, the governor reiterated his position that because Virginia allows specialty plates that bear social and political messages, the courts would not support denying a plate to any group if it meets the minimum requirements and is approved by the General Assembly.”

The Politico: “Tim Kaine, the Virginia governor and President Barack Obama’s hand-picked choice as the head of the Democratic National Committee, infuriated abortion-rights groups Monday by signing legislation that gives abortion foes a long-sought victory.”

LifeNews: “After lobbying from advocates on both sides of the abortion debate, pro-abortion Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine has sign a bill that would create Choose Life license plates.”

AP: “The court on Monday said it will leave in place a ruling by the Virginia Supreme Court that the law was unconstitutional because it prohibited political, religious and other messages in addition to commercial solicitations . . . The case is Virginia v. Jaynes, 08-765.”

Evangelical Christian Forums: “Alliance Defense Fund Senior Legal Counsel Jeff Shafer will debate Jeremy Gunn, director of the American Civil Liberties Union Program on Religious Freedom, Wednesday at George Mason University Law School. The subject of the debate, which is open to the public, will be the U.S. Supreme Court’s interpretation of the Establishment Clause.”

FamilyFoundationBlog.com: “In light of that, and the era in which we live where religious liberty and the rights of religious expression in the public square are under constant attack, we have partnered with the Alliance Defense Fund to host a Regional Litigation Academy. This one-day continuing education seminar for attorneys, pastors and church administrators is Wednesday, April 22, at the Westin Richmond, 6631 West Broad Street. We invite all attorneys and pastors to attend.”

LifeNews: “At least one member of Congress is misleading his constituents on the so-called Freedom of Choice Act — the radical pro-abortion bill. The congressman is telling his constituents that they have nothing to fear because the bill will not be introduced . . . Matt Bowman, a pro-life attorney with the Alliance Defense Fund, estimates that FOCA could result in an increase of 125,000 abortions or more annually throughout the country.”

AP: “An Islamic school in nortern Virginia with close ties to the Saudi government has revised its religious textbooks in an effort to end years of criticism that the school fosters hatred and intolerance . . . ”

Courtney Cutright, reporting in the Roanoke Times: School divisions across the commonwealth find themselves in a scramble to balance budgets in the face of decreased state aid and, in many cases, reduced local contributions. Some are searching for additional streams …

LifeNews: “A Virginia pro-life group is renewing its call to pro-abortion Gov. Tim Kaine to sign a bill that would authorize Choose Life license plates. The Virginia state legislature put the final touches on the bill last month that includes …

Liberty Counsel: Today Liberty Counsel filed its brief before the Virginia Court of Appeals on behalf of Lisa Miller and her six-year-old daughter, Isabella, arguing that Virginia law prohibits the enforcement of a child custody order arising out of a …

. . . New Hampshire’s state motto is ‘Live Free or Die.’ But is New Hampshire the most free place to live in the United States? Apparently it is, according to a new study, Freedom in the 50 States: An Index of Personal and Economic Freedom . . .

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Tamara Dietrich writes at The Daily Press: This local case seems straightforward enough. Three illegal immigrants — two men and a woman — charged with running brothels from 2006-2008 in which three other illegal immigrants — identified in the indictment …

Christian Newswire: “On Monday the Virginia Senate  Courts of Justice Committee voted 8-6-1 along party lines to kill a pro-faith bill, HB2314, which would have restored the rights of Virginia State Police Chaplains to pray publicly ‘in Jesus name.’”

AP: “George Mason University senior Ryan Allen dresses in drag and doesn’t mind being called a queen – homecoming queen, to be exact. Allen, who is gay and performs in drag at nightclubs in the region, said he entered the …

Washington Post via AZ Central: So Carrico, who now represents Grayson County as a member of the House of Delegates, said he felt he had to act after Virginia State Police chaplains were ordered last summer to give only generic …

LifeNews: “Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, the abortion advocate who some claim is pro-life, won’t commit to signing a bill that allows motorists to purchase Choose Life license plates. Members of the Virginia state Senate approved an amendment earlier this month …

Eugene Volokh writes at the Volokh Conspiracy on a new Diversity pledge that has been adopted by the University of Virginia Student Bar Association which provides in part: Every person has worth as an individual. Every person is entitled to …

Richmond Times Dispatch: The debate over a ballpark in Shockoe Bottom is getting louder, especially at 15th and East Main streets. A large, bright yellow sign, exclaiming “No Stadium in Shockoe,” hangs from the side of the building above the …

The legislation passed the House 66-30 Wednesday with 14 Democrats and both independents joining 50 Republicans in support. All votes against it were from Democrats.

The Free Lance-Star: “The House of Delegates will vote today on a bill that would allow State Police chaplains to pray to Jesus Christ during official functions.”

AP: “The American Civil Liberties Union and a Charlottesville-based free speech group will assist Gloucester County residents appealing a judge’s order that they pay legal fees of county supervisors that they unsuccessfully tried to remove from office . . . …

365Gay.com reports on the ongoing custody battle involving Lisa Miller and her former lesbian partner Janet Jenkins. Miller has been fighting court ordered visitation with Jenkins: . . . And Cohen warned Miller, the 6- year-old child’s birth mother, that …

CNA: “DMC Pharmacy, a new pro-life pharmacy in Chantilly, Virginia claims to have been the target of a bill recently introduced into the Virginia House of Delegates. The bill, which was tabled indefinitely, placed restrictions on pharmacies which refuse to …

The Episcopal Diocese of Virginia inched closer to blessing same-sex unions Saturday when delegates approved a resolution affirming “the inherent integrity and blessedness of committed Christian relationships between two adult persons.”

The Daily Progress: . . . Jeffery King, a pastor at Rosehill Baptist Church in Albemarle County, filed suit against Cardinal Health Inc. on Jan. 7 in Charlottesville’s federal court . . . In September, the EEOC filed a suit …

WorldNetDaily reports: A Christian mother has been told by a Virginia court that her 6-year-old daughter must now visit the mother’s former lesbian partner in Vermont, and if she refuses, the law will remove the girl by force, if necessary. …

The Religion Clause Blog reports that the U.S. Supreme Court has refused to hear the Turner v. City Council of Fredericksburg, (Docket No. 08-518). The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the city’s requirement that prayers be nondenominational.

Miller’s decision, which is in direct defiance of numerous court orders, may result in heavy fines, jail time, and loss of custody of her six year old child to lesbian Janet Jenkins . . .

LifeNews.com reports: A Virginia pro-life group says the prospects of de-funding the Planned Parenthood abortion business could be better in 2009 than they have been in years. The Family Forum says it will press efforts to stop forcing taxpayers to …

A Republican in the Virginia House of Delegates is sponsoring a bill in the upcoming legislative session that would allow Virginia companies to provide life insurance to partners of gay employees, according to the General Assembly’s web site.

The Roanoke Times reports: Roanoke Vice Mayor Sherman Lea didn’t actually mention Jesus Christ by name during his prayer at a city council meeting earlier this month. But his invocation, which referred to an “eternal God” and the “high and …

AP: “Nearly a dozen conservative church congregations in Virginia have won a lawsuit in which they sought to split from the U.S. Episcopal Church in a dispute over theology and homosexuality. The final rulings came Friday from a Fairfax County judge …

Gay rights advocates in Virginia are concerned that a Republican with a distinctly anti-gay record could be the state’s next governor.

The Richmond Times Dispatch: Virginia Attorney General Bob McDonnell yesterday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to reinstate Virginia’s anti-spam e-mail law. In September the Virginia Supreme Court held that the Anti-Spam Act of 2003 was unconstitutional for barring all anonymous, …

The AP reports: “The U.S. Supreme Court has let stand a ruling that Virginia must enforce a Vermont court order awarding child-visitation rights to a mother’s former lesbian partner. The high court Monday declined to hear the case of Lisa …

An aide to Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., has been charged in federal court in Virginia with receiving and distributing child pornography.

This Note finds its impetus in the particular struggle over child visitation rights between Lisa Miller-Jenkins and Janet Miller-Jenkins. Miller-Jenkins v. Miller-Jenkins (“Miller v. Jenkins”) involves the interaction of Vermont, Virginia, and federal law. The case carries significance as more individuals leave the homosexual lifestyle, as more same-sex unions come to an end, and as the states wrestle with how to legally deal with the consequences.

The North Carolina Family Policy Council: “On Tuesday, October 28, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, whose jurisdiction includes North Carolina, held an 80–minute hearing on the constitutionality of Virginia’s partial birth abortion ban. The Partial Birth Infanticide Act …

The Washington Post reports: Three groups plan to sue the state to challenge a controversial State Board of Elections policy that bans the wearing of buttons, T-shirts and other clothes with political messages in polling places. The Thomas Jefferson Center …

LifeSiteNews.com reports: Lisa Miller, a woman who has repudiated the lesbian lifestyle, was held in contempt of court yesterday for refusing to allow child visitation for her former lesbian lover, Janet Jenkins . . . Although the judge deferred any …

Sherry Colb has this commentary on Findlaw. She writes: . . . Yesterday, the relatively conservative U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit confronted just such a question when it sat en banc (as a full court) to hear …

LifeSiteNews.com reports: “Lisa Miller, a former lesbian who rejected the homosexual lifestyle and returned to her belief in Christ, will face contempt of court charges today for refusing to give unsupervised visitation of her daughter to her former lesbian partner …

The AP reports: “A new drug store at a Virginia strip mall is putting its faith in an unconventional business plan: No candy. No sodas. And no birth control. Divine Mercy Care Pharmacy is among at least seven pharmacies across …

The Religion Clause Blog reports: “The Washington Times reports that on Tuesday, a Fairfax County, Virginia, trial court judge issued yet another ruling in favor of one of the local congregations that has broken away from the Episcopal Church in …

Liberty Counsel has issued this press release that begins: Liberty University School of Law is pleased to announce a 94.4% Virginia bar passage rate for the class of 2008. Liberty University School of Law’s continued success on the bar exam …

WSET.com reports: “The State Board of Elections decided today to adopt a ban on clothing, including buttons and hats that directly endorse a candidate or issue.”

The Daily Press reports: “Craig County will replace a Bible education course that had been questioned by the American Civil Liberties Union.”

The American Library Association reports: “Groups of students and parents staged rallies and presented some 85 books on homosexuality from a conservative Christian perspective for inclusion in the libraries at 11 schools in the Fairfax County (Va.) Public School District …

WorldNetDaily reports: Gov. Timothy Kaine of Virginia has affirmed his support for a new statewide policy under which state troopers serving as chaplains will not be allowed to pray “in Jesus name,” explaining that he can pray “without mentioning Jesus.” …

Liberty Counsel reports: “Activist judges in Vermont have declared that a legal stranger is a mommy to another woman’s biological child. Now, a Vermont judge will decide whether to order the six year old little girl be stripped from the loving …

WDBJ7.com reports:  . . . The controversy began last week when the Virginia State Police superintendent requested the department’s 17 chaplains offer non-denominational prayers at public events like graduations. Six chaplains resigned over the change.  The Family Foundation contacted the …

Virtue Online reports: “The Diocese of Virginia today announced that it has reached a legal settlement with Potomac Falls Church in Potomac Falls and Christ the Redeemer Church in Chantilly. The mission churches, which do not hold any real property, …

“Buddhist monks and their followers have filed a federal lawsuit in the hopes of forcing the city to let them resume worshipping at their home in rural Pungo. The suit, filed Thursday, complains that the city of Virginia Beach violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act . . . ”

The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports: “At least five members of the Virginia State Police chaplains program have resigned after being told they must abstain from praying in the name of Jesus or Christ during department-sanctioned events involving the public.”

Liberty Counsel has issued this press release: “After a federal court ruled in favor of Child Evangelism Fellowship of Virginia (CEF), against the Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools, the district was forced to end its discrimination against the organization’s Good News …

The ABA Journal reports: About a dozen lawyers are asking the Virginia State Bar to conduct an ethics investigation of former Justice Department lawyer Monica Goodling, accused in a report this summer of illegally considering politics in hiring decisions.

“The Virginia Supreme Court declared the state’s anti-spam law unconstitutional Friday and reversed the conviction of a man once considered one of the world’s most prolific spammers.”

The Daily Press reports: “Police are looking for a gunman who shot two people after a confrontation that began with a fender bender in the parking lot of a Virginia Beach strip club early Sunday morning.”

The Blog of the Legal Times reports: “Charles Rust-Tierney, the former president of the Virginia chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, was disbarred today by the D.C. Court of Appeals. On July 1, 2007, Rust-Tierney, 52, pleaded guilty to …

Eugene Volokh reports on The Volokh Conspiracy: “The decision — Ostergren v. McDonnell, [No. 3:08cv62, E.D. Va. August 22, 2008)] handed down last Friday — is quite narrow, focusing chiefly on the fact that the social security numbers were drawn …

The Staunton Leader reports: After Hours Video remains open after being found guilty of obscenity charges. But a city code could force owner Rick Krial to close doors . . . Under city code, that permit could be revoked if …

An adult video store in Staunton is still open after an obscenity conviction last week, and it’s up to the city to decide what to do next. There’s a chance owner Rick Krial could have his permit revoked for After Hours Video, but it’s a complicated process.

The Richmond Times reports: Judge John R. Prosser of Frederick County Circuit Court yesterday dismissed Lisa Miller’s request to halt efforts to enforce a Vermont court’s orders granting Janet Jenkins visitation with the daughter born to she and Miller in …

Staunton Prosecutor Raymond C. Robertson was the clear winner in Friday’s obscenity trial against After Hours Video and its owner, Rick Krial, who was found guilty of selling obscene DVDs at his Springhill Road Store.

Jurors in the obscenity trial of a Virginia adult video store were required to sit through nearly four hours of “adult entertainment” in a Staunton courtroom yesterday.

Today, a federal court ruled in favor of Child Evangelism Fellowship of Virginia (CEF), granting an injunction against the Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools.

http://www.alliancedefensefund.org/news/story.aspx?cid=4627 ALLIANCE DEFENSE FUND NEWS RELEASE July 29, 2008 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT ADF MEDIA RELATIONS: (480) 444-0020 or www.telladf.org/pressroom ADF: 4th Circuit correct to rehear Va. abortion ban lawsuit ADF provided funding for friend-of-the-court briefs in the case …

In an important 6-4 decision today, the Fourth Circuit announced that it will rehear en banc a case involving the constitutionality of Virginia’s partial birth abortion ban.

The Daily Press reports: “A man and a woman were hit by gunfire late last night outside a Virginia Beach strip club.”

LifeSiteNews.com reports: The Attorney for the Commonwealth of Virginia says he will investigate, but has no intentions of prosecuting, Commonwealth Catholic Charities of Richmond (CCR) for their involvement in procuring an illegal abortion for a 16-year-old Guatemalan girl in their …

Authorities said that since “bride” and “groom” were not clearly defined on the marriage license application, they might not be able to prove intent to commit fraud.

The AP reports: “Eleven conservative Episcopal churches won a legal victory Friday when a circuit court judge upheld a Virginia law allowing congregations to vote to secede from their parent denominations . . .”

http://www.alliancedefensefund.org/news/story.aspx?cid=4588 ALLIANCE DEFENSE FUND MEDIA ADVISORY June 30, 2008 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT ADF MEDIA RELATIONS: (480) 444-0020 or www.telladf.org/pressroom ADF attorney available to media following hearing in 4th of July cross case Cross displayed by Christian group deemed …