Justice Department Increasingly Focusing On Religious Rights Cases

This morning's New York Times carries a long front-page article on a shift in emphasis by the Bush Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. Cases challenging religious discrimination or seeking to vindicate religious rights are getting more attention, while hate crimes cases and cases involving dilution of voting rights of African Americans are being brought less often. Cases under the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000 against individuals bringing women into the U.S. to work in brothels have also been emphasized. The article reports that these cases are particular favorites of employees with religious backgrounds who see them as combating a form of slavery. The article reports that there has been an increase in staff hiring from religiously-affiliated law schools, and it charges that political appointees have steered annual merit bonuses to religiously-oriented employees. [Thanks to Steven H. Sholk for the lead.]