Current Legal Battles

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After Long Delay, Attorney General Releases Title and Summary for CLASS Initiative

City: 
Sacramento, CA
Date: 
02/21/2012

The StopSB48 coalition of pro-family groups across California is announcing that a new initiative should be ready to begin signature gathering this week. The new Children Learning Accurate Social Science (CLASS) Initiative follows last year’s attempted referendum on SB 48, the state’s controversial law mandating that social studies be slanted to favor lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) persons.

Free Love? White House Says Yes

City: 
Washington, D.C.
Date: 
02/14/2012

Following a firestorm of criticism, the White House late last week announced that it was altering plans to force Catholic and other religious institutions to pay for employees’ birth control and abortifacient drugs (such as the so-called “morning-after” pill). While the revised plan was touted as a compromise, religious liberty advocates continue to protest the morality and legality of forcing someone else to pay for an employee’s sexual choices.

“Judicial Coup:” Ninth Circuit Strikes Down Prop. 8

City: 
San Francisco, CA
Date: 
02/07/2012

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit today issued a major ruling declaring California’s Proposition 8 unconstitutional.

L.A. Teacher Arrested for Molestation; Union Allegedly Protected His Pension

City: 
Los Angeles, CA
Date: 
02/01/2012

A veteran Los Angeles teacher has been arrested on multiple charges of child molestation allegedly occurring inside the classroom. Meanwhile, radio reports indicate that the teacher’s union arranged for him to resign—even after the discovery of shocking pictures involving his students—so that he could collect a generous pension from taxpayers.

Supreme Court’s Indecision Leaves Schools, Students Unsure of Speech Rights

City: 
Washington, D.C.
Date: 
01/18/2012

The U.S. Supreme Court yesterday stoked the fires of a hot free speech debate—without
even taking a case or issuing a decision. The Court did so by choosing not to hear appeals in two cases that
reached contradictory conclusions about the authority of public school officials to punish students for online,
off-campus speech.

In two consolidated cases originating out of Pennsylvania, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals held that school
officials could not punish students for degrading their principal on a social networking site. At the same time,

New Bill Would Allow Boys to Play on Girls Teams, Share “Facilities”

City: 
Sacramento, CA
Date: 
01/09/2012

Less than a week after California’s gay history mandate went into effect, a new pro-LGBT bill introduced last week promises to stir even more controversy.

Big Labor Unions Push for Marriage Redefinition

City: 
Boston, MA
Date: 
01/05/2012

As the curtain rises on 2012 and millions of Americans turn their attention to the New Hampshire primaries, a blockbuster legal battle brewing just to the south is expected to burst on the scene later next year in a way that could sway the election.

7 Bold Predictions for Constitutional Liberty in 2012

City: 
Sacramento, CA
Date: 
12/27/2011

No one can predict the future, right? Maybe not, but we can make bold prognostications based on years of experience and closely watching trends in the legal world. With that in mind, Pacific Justice Institute offers the following predictions of constitutional and religious liberty headlines in 2012.

2011: Our Best Year Yet!

City: 
Sacramento, CA
Date: 
12/19/2011

– To many, 2011 will be remembered as a dismal trudge through layoffs, fiscal crises and budget cuts. Non-profits like Pacific Justice Institute took a heavy hit as well, cutting many staff to part-time status and literally pinching pennies. So why would PJI consider 2011 one of the best in its 14-year history?

“Great outcomes,” said Brad Dacus, the president of PJI. “In spite of the hardships, our staff continues to go above and beyond, and it’s paying off in a huge way.” Dacus pointed to several legal victories in the past year that he considers some of the firm’s best work.

2011 Left Coast Hall of Shame

City: 
Sacramento, CA
Date: 
12/12/2011

As we look back on 2011, Pacific Justice Institute remembers ten of the year’s worst developments for religious, constitutional and parental rights in its 2011 Left Coast Hall of Shame.

1. San Juan Capistrano shuts down home Bible study. A Southern California city founded by a religious mission fined a Bible study group for meeting in a home. After PJI intervened, the city backed down.