Current Legal Battles

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Soledad Cross Stays -- Court Finds No Constitutional Violation

City: 
San Diego, CA
Date: 
07/29/2008

A federal court in San Diego has determined that the cross atop Mt. Soledad in San Diego County does not violate the Establishment Clause. In his 36-page opinion, a federal judge, Larry Burns, ruled that in this case the government's use of religious symbolism did not violate the Establishment Clause.

High School Refuses to Recognize Bible Study Club; PJI Files Suit

City: 
Anaheim, CA
Date: 
07/29/2008

Pacific Justice Institute filed suit today in federal court in Southern California on behalf of students who have been thwarted in their attempts to start an after-school Bible Study Club at Esperanza High School in Anaheim. The high school's Associated Student Body Director ostensibly denied permission for the club on the grounds that it is "non-curricular" in nature, but the yearbook lists numerous clubs that are not directly related to the curriculum.

Biology Professor Files Suit After Being Fired for Answering Student Question On Homosexuality

City: 
San Jose, CA
Date: 
07/22/2008

San Jose, CA - A biology professor at San Jose City College filed a federal lawsuit late last week after she was terminated for statements the College decided were politically incorrect. The professor, June Sheldon, is being represented by attorneys for Pacific Justice Institute as co-counsel with the Alliance Defense Fund Center for Academic Freedom.

CA Supreme Court Rejects Petition to Keep Marriage Initiative Off of November Ballot

City: 
San Francisco, CA
Date: 
07/16/2008

California's high court denied a petition to keep Proposition 8 off of the November ballot. Proposition 8 states: "Only a marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California."

PJI Defends Students Threatened for Singing Patriotic Songs in Capitol Rotunda

City: 
Sacramento, CA
Date: 
07/14/2008

Students attending an educational conference in the California Capitol building were accosted by security for singing the "Star Spangled Banner" and "God Bless America." The students were participating in City On A Hill which teaches students the fundamentals of the legislative process. Approximately forty-five students were in the rotunda and, inspired by the grandeur of the setting and their feelings of patriotism, began to spontaneously sing. A sergeant at arms and four Highway Patrol Officers asserted to the City On A Hill staff that the students required a permit to sing.

Breaking News in Homeschool Case - Trial Court Ends Jurisdiction; Case May be Moot

City: 
Los Angeles, CA
Date: 
07/11/2008

Following a five-and-a-half hour hearing yesterday, the juvenile dependency court overseeing the Rachel L. homeschooling case has determined that no further court oversight of the family is needed and has therefore terminated its jurisdiction.

Attorneys for the parents plan to immediately notify the Court of Appeal that the case is moot and should be dismissed. The court-appointed attorneys for the children, who have been pushing to have them forcibly enrolled in a non-homeschool, vowed to appeal yesterday's decision.

PJI Blitzes CA with Pastor Briefings on Same-Sex Marriage Issues

City: 
Sacramento, CA
Date: 
07/07/2008

Due to the legalization of same-sex marriages by the California Supreme Court, the Pacific Justice Institute is providing legal briefings to pastors on this issue. The briefings give practical counsel to pastors on limiting legal liability to churches as they face requests to perform wedding ceremonies, the renting of facilities and related matters. In addition, PJI will discuss the California Marriage Amendment with an emphasis on what churches can proactively do to seek passage of this law in November. The scheduling information is as follows:

June 17th Loveland Church, Ontario

ACLU and Others File Lawsuit to Stop Marriage Initiative

City: 
San Francisco, CA
Date: 
06/23/2008

The ACLU, Equality California, Lambda Legal and the National Center for Lesbian Rights filed suit late last week asking the California Supreme Court to yank the Protect Marriage Initiative off the November ballot.

Oral Arguments Loom in Homeschool Case

City: 
Los Angeles
Date: 
06/17/2008

California's Second District Court of Appeal in Los Angeles will hear oral arguments this coming Monday in the Rachel L. homeschool case that has attracted nationwide attention. The court has set aside two hours for oral argument - significantly more time than is typically allotted at the appellate level.

WA Supreme Court Allows Same-Sex Marriage Benefits, Ignoring State DOMA

City: 
Olympia, WA
Date: 
06/10/2008

The Washington Supreme Court has denied a request by Pacific Justice Institute to review a lower courts decision allowing the mayor of Seattle to grant same-sex marriage benefits to City employees. Washington enacted a Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) which has been upheld by the state Supreme Court. However, in 2004 the mayor of Seattle issued an Executive Order defying state law and commanding all city departments to recognize same-sex marriages from other jurisdictionsnow including Californiafor purposes of employee benefits.