Montana Church Appeals Constitutionality Of State Election Regulations

Representing a Baptist church charged with violating Montana's election campaign reporting laws, the Alliance Defense Fund (press release) yesterday filed a notice of Appeal with the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in Canyon Ferry Road Baptist Church v. Higgins, (D MT, Sept, 26, 2006). In the case, the district court rejected the Church's First Amendment speech and religion challenges to the election regulations. The Montana Commissioner of Political Practices had ruled that the church should have reported its support of activities in 2004 to get voters to pass a constitutional ban on gay marriage. (See prior posting.)