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Appeals Court Rules: “In God We Trust” Is Constituional

Appeals Court Rules: “In God We Trust” Is Constituional

A federal appeals court ruled Thursday on two separate cases that the phrase “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance and our national motto, “In God We Trust,” do not violate the Constitution’s separation of church and state.
“The Pledge is constitutional,”  wrote Judge Carlos Bea for the majority in the 2-1 ruling by the 9th [...]

March 11 2010 | Read More »

High Court Rules Excessive Force Claims Must Be Decided On Nature Of Force

High Court Rules Excessive Force Claims Must Be Decided On Nature Of Force

The United States Supreme Court ruled Monday that excessive force claims must be decided based on the nature of the force rather than the extent of the injury.
The Wilkins v. Gaddy [docket] ruling says a defendant need not “show significant injury in order to state an excessive force claim.”  The decision reinstates a North Carolina [...]

February 22 2010 | Read More »

USDA Will Pay $1.25B To Black Farmers

USDA Will Pay $1.25B To Black Farmers

The Obama administration announced Thursday it will pay out $1.25 billion settlement in order to resolve a decade long dispute by black farmers who say the Department of Agriculture discriminated against them in loan programs.
“This is a very historic, emotional day for black farmers,” said John Boyd Jr., president of the National Black Farmers Association [...]

February 19 2010 | Read More »

Court Rules Legally Blind Law-Grad Can Use Device For Bar Exam

Court Rules Legally Blind Law-Grad Can Use Device For Bar Exam

A federal district court judge ruled that a legally blind law-school grad who sued the National Conference of Bar Examiners can use adaptive technology when she takes the February 2010 California Bar Exam.
Stephanie Enyart, who was diagnosed with macular degeneration and lost much of her vision at 15, wanted to use ZoomText technology that would help her take [...]

February 5 2010 | Read More »

Guity Verdict in Abortionist Murder

Guity Verdict in Abortionist Murder

Although he argued his actions were justified to save the lives of unborn children, the jury Friday swiftly convicted an abortion opponent of premeditated first-degree murder for shooting  to death a late-term abortionist.
The jury only deliberated for 37 minutes before finding Scott Roeder, 51, guilty of killing Dr. George Tiller on May 31.
Guilty on all [...]

January 29 2010 | Read More »

eHarmony To Settle With Gays, Again.

eHarmony To Settle With Gays, Again.

The online dating site eHarmony settled a lawsuit Tuesday in California by agreeing to be more inclusive with gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgenders, who are looking for love.
In 2005, Eric McKinley, a gay man from New Jersey filed suit against eHarmony for not offering matchmaking for gays and lesbians.
eHarmony agreed to a settlement with the [...]

January 29 2010 | Read More »

Judge: FDA Cannot Restrict Firms From Importing E-Cigarettes Into U.S.

Judge: FDA Cannot Restrict Firms From Importing E-Cigarettes Into U.S.

In a 32-page opinion, U.S. District Judge Richard Leon wrote a scathing decision in which he reprimanded the Food and Drug Administration for trying to assert jurisdiction over e-cigarettes – battery-powered or rechargeable devices made to look like real cigarettes that vaporize a liquid nicotine solution.
“This case appears to be yet another example of FDA’s [...]

January 14 2010 | Read More »

7th Circuit Calls Chicago Officials’ ‘Discrimination” Against Ministry, ‘Malicious’

7th Circuit Calls Chicago Officials’ ‘Discrimination” Against Ministry, ‘Malicious’

The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals described the actions by city of Chicago officials, who applied zoning and administrative rules to prevent a church ministry from offering housing to victims of Hurricane Katrina, as a “malicious prosecution of a religious organization.”
World Outreach Conference Center, a Chicago based church ministry, purchased a former YMCA building in [...]

January 6 2010 | Read More »

Judge, 70, Must Step Down Because Of Mandatory Retirement

Judge, 70, Must Step Down Because Of Mandatory Retirement

A federal judge ruled that a Baltimore City judge must yield to the mandatory judicial retirement provisions of the state and step down off the bench.
Baltimore City Circuit Judge Charles G. Bernstein, who turned 70 on Dec. 27, is so far losing his battle on what he calls “constitutional senility.”
Bernstein filed a federal lawsuit last [...]

December 29 2009 | Read More »

‘Balloon Boy’ Parents Get Jail Time, 4 Years Probation

‘Balloon Boy’ Parents Get Jail Time, 4 Years Probation

A Colorado judge sentenced ‘Balloon Boy’ father Richard Heene Wednesday to 90 days in jail and four years probation and from making any profits from his lie.
Although David Lane, attorney for Richard Heene, pleaded for leniency saying that the couple “have learned a lesson they will never forget for the rest of their lives,”  and [...]

December 23 2009 | Read More »