Current Legal Battles

Click the links below to view our press releases.

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.

Appeal Argues SJ Officials Broke the Law By Stifling Debate Over “Rainbow Day”

City: 
San José, CA
Date: 
11/07/2011

Opening legal briefs have been filed in the California Court of Appeal, arguing that San José school officials broke the law by refusing to even consider a parent’s request to change a controversial pro-gay celebration at her child’s middle school.

The parent, Norina Mooney, started asking questions after a pro-LGBT “Rainbow Day” was held this spring at Castillero Middle School. She asked district officials to place an item on the school board’s agenda which, if approved, would have directed the school to make Rainbow Day more inclusive of non-LGBT students affected by bullying.

Free Speech Advocates Alarmed By Attempt to Fire Teacher Over Facebook Posts

City: 
Sacramento, CA
Date: 
10/27/2011

Attorneys who defend free speech are speaking out in support of a New Jersey teacher who has been removed from the classroom and is under investigation for comments she made on Facebook that reflected her religious beliefs about homosexuality.

Cross-Dressing Elementary School Employee Puts Parents in Awkward Spot

City: 
Ridgecrest, CA
Date: 
09/22/2011

A parent of two young girls was caught off guard recently when her daughters came home from school with questions about a man dressed like a woman on duty in the school cafeteria. The parent was further chagrined when officials in the Sierra Sands Unified School District confirmed the story but insisted their hands were tied.

Professor Files Suit to Correct His Record

City: 
Fresno, CA
Date: 
08/31/2011

Professor Brad Lopez filed suit in federal court in Fresno seeking to correct his employment record at Fresno City College. The College took action against the college instructor after a student and her friends made complaints about his class. The ACLU spearheaded a campaign so the College would censure Dr. Lopez for comments they characterized as anti-homosexual and promoting a Christian belief system.

School District Sued for Squelching Parent Objections to “Rainbow Day”

City: 
San Jose, CA
Date: 
08/09/2011

An appeal has been filed with the California Court of Appeal in a lawsuit challenging a refusal by the superintendent and school board president of San Jose Unified School District to allow a parent to formally request changes to a controversial program at her child’s middle school.

Stop SB 48 Petitions Now Available

City: 
Sacramento, CA
Date: 
07/28/2011

Official referendum petitions to overturn California’s controversial new “gay history” law, SB 48, are now available online. The clock is racing toward the end of September, by which the StopSB48 coalition must gather approximately 550,000 valid signatures.

Pharmaceutical-Funded Politicians Urged to Abstain from Key Vote to Give Kids HPV Vaccines Without Parental Knowledge.

City: 
Sacramento, CA
Date: 
06/13/2011

The Pacific Justice Institute is calling on three members of California's Senate Judiciary Committee to avoid the appearance of impropriety by voting against or abstaining from a key vote that would line the pockets of their campaign contributors at the expense of parental involvement.

The controversy centers around AB 499, which comes up for a vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee this Tuesday. The bill would allow children as young as 12 to consent to preventive care for sexually transmitted diseases (STD's) without their parents knowing about it.