Sunday, September 16, 2012

Smoking Ordinance Does Not Violate Free Exercise Rights

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In  Porter v. Bates , 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 129394 (ND CA, Sept. 11, 2012), a California federal district judge dismissed claims that a Ber...
Saturday, September 15, 2012

Fraternity House Is Not A Monastery For Zoning Purposes

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In Myers v. City of Chicago ,  (ND IL, Sept. 12, 2012), and Illinois federal district court rejected an equal protection claim by plaintiff ...

EEOC Posts Web Page On Employment Discrimination Against Muslims and Sikhs

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The federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has added a page to its website titled " What You Should Know about the EEOC and Re...

Suit Challenges 10 Commandments Monument Outside High School

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The Freedom From Religion Foundation announced yesterday that it (along with two students and their parents) has filed a federal lawsuit ch...
Friday, September 14, 2012

Virginia Settlement Will Allow Religiously Mandated 1/4-Inch Beards In Prisons

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AP reports  that the Virginia Department of Corrections this week entered a settlement agreement with Sunni Muslim inmate William Couch who ...

Suit Challenging Gifts To Legion of Christ Dismissed on Standing Grounds, But Judge Says Questions Remain

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In Dauray v. Estate of Gabrielle D. Mee ,  (RI Super. Ct., Sept. 7, 2012), a Rhode Island Superior Court held that Mary Dauray, the niece o...

NYC Approves Informed Consent Requirement For Controversial Circumcision Procedure; Court Challenge Planned

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The New York Times reports that yesterday the 9-member New York City Board of Health voted unanimously to approve a proposed rule  that req...

NY Scaffold Law Applies To Worker Dismantling Wedding Chuppah

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New York's "Scaffold Law," Labor Law, Sec. 240 , imposes liability on contractors and owners who fail to provide proper scaffo...

Egyptian Film Star Wins Reversal of Conviction for Insulting Islam

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In Egypt on Wednesday, popular Arab comedian and film star Adel Imam won a reversal of his conviction for insulting Islam.  A trial court ha...
Thursday, September 13, 2012

Mystery Surrounds True Identity of Person Who Produced Anti-Muslim Film That Triggered Demonstrations

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Mystery surrounds the anti-Muslim video that was at the center of demonstrations Tuesday at the U.S. embassy in Egypt and the U.S. consulate...

Missouri Legislature Overrides Veto On Health Care Conscience Provisions; Lawsuit Filed

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In a move to oppose the federal mandate on contraception coverage in health insurance policies, the Missouri legislature yesterday voted to ...

Church Sues Over Permit Denial To Leaflet Outside LDS Temple Open House

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The ACLU of Utah announced Tuesday that it had filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of the Main Street Church of Brigham City challenging the ...

Hobby Lobby Challenges ACA Contraceptive Coverage Mandate On Religious Grounds

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Yesterday the Becket Fund announced yet another lawsuit challenging on free exercise grounds the contraception coverage mandate under the A...
Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Egypt Plans Legal Action Against Makers of Anti-Muslim Film

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Reuters reports that Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi has asked the Egyptian embassy in Washington, D.C. to take legal action in the U.S. a...

U.S. Embassy's Initial Statement Criticizing Anti-Muslim Video Leads To Political Controversy

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As reported by CBS News , the statement initially issued by the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, Egypt yesterday as demonstrators outside it began to ...

California Developer Behind Film That Triggered Attacks In Egypt and Libya

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Fox News reports today that Sam Bacile, who wrote and directed the controversial film Innocence of Muslims  ( YouTube trailer for film ) we...

Israeli Court Rejects Reception Hall Owners' Religious Objections To Same-Sex Marriage

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According to Haaretz today, the Jerusalem Magistrate's Court has for the first time under Israeli law held that owners of a reception h...

Virginia Grants Over 7,000 Religious Exemptions From Compulsory Education

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Code of Virginia  § 22.1-254  generally requiring school attendance by children goes on to provide: A school board shall excuse from atten...

Anti-Muslim Video Cited In Attacks On U.S. Embassies In Egypt and Libya

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The U.S. embassy in Egypt and the U.S. consulate in Libya were attacked yesterday, by demonstrators citing the movie "Innocence of Musl...
Tuesday, September 11, 2012

6th Circuit: Policeman's Prayer With Defendant Not Cause of Incriminating Statements

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In United States v. Wynn ,  (6th Cir., Sept. 7, 2012), the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals refused to suppress incriminating statements ma...