Thursday, November 17, 2005

Analysis of Alito On Religious Freedom

Today's New Jersey Jewish News carries an interesting analysis of several of Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito's Third Circuit opinions on issues of religious freedom. It concludes that Alito would likely expand Free Exercise Clause protections, but would weaken the Establishment Clause and erode the separation of church and state. The article quotes several experts, including Marc Stern, co-director of the Commission for Law and Social Action at the American Jewish Congress, who said "It is fair to say [Alito] is prepared to allow religious speakers equal access to the public forum, but he does not pay enough attention to the practical rights of people who are forced to listen."