Several Religious Liberty Cases on Supreme Court Docket

West facade of the Supreme Court Building Photo Credit Franz Jantzen

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October 7, 2020
Liberato

1A: Several religious liberty cases on Supreme Court docket – faith-based exemption from antidiscrimination laws by a private foster care agency, etc.
https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2020/10/05/Supreme-Court-to-take-up-religious-liberty-cases/1791601663498/

Discrimination: The LGBT wars continue -“Virginia Forces Christian Ministries to Adopt ‘Government Ideology’ or Pay $100K”
https://pjmedia.com/culture/tyler-o-neil/2020/09/30/virginia-forces-christian-ministries-to-adopt-government-ideology-or-pay-100k-n985842

1A Religion, etc.: court granting a divorce under state law does not deprive husband (who argued for Lebanese law to apply) of his right to free exercise of religion (Maryland)
https://reason.com/2020/10/02/maryland-residents-divorce-governed-by-maryland-law-not-lebanese-law-or-religious-law/

1A: Satanic group declares abortion a ‘religious ritual’, sues sign company over refusal to put up billboards
https://www.lifenews.com/2020/09/30/satanic-temple-sues-billboard-company-that-refused-signs-for-abortion-ritual-killing-babies/

  • You can laugh at this or realize groups like this are the shock troops in the culture wars.  They will use the Constitution whenever they can to destroy absolutely everything.

1A: UChicago best school for free speech, First Amendment group says
https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2020/09/islands-of-repression.php
 
1A,Elections Clause: federal judge rules Minnesota mask mandate does not violate free speech even though it prevents the non-wearing of masks to protest the mandate. Plus, the mandate does not rise to the level of regulating the time, place, or manner of elections.
https://reason.com/2020/10/03/mask-mandate-doesnt-violate-the-first-amendment/
+
https://reason.com/2020/10/03/mask-mandate-including-at-polling-places-doesnt-violate-elections-clause/

2A: ‘We don’t need guns; we have the police.’ But, “When the government refuses to stop looting and rioting, armed self-defense is the only deterrent.” #WagesOfWoke
https://reason.com/2020/10/05/is-the-right-to-armed-self-defense-obsolete/

2A: Supreme Court declines to hear challenge to Nebraska law prohibiting juveniles who commit offenses from possessing firearms until age 25
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/oct/5/supreme-court-bucks-second-amendment-challenge/
 
2A: federal judge orders L.A. to pay NRA $150,000 in legal fees for case ending in city ordinance requiring businesses to disclose ties to the NRA being struck down
https://www.mrctv.org/blog/la-ordered-pay-150k-nra-after-judge-strikes-down-unlawful-anti-gun-ordinance
 
2A: undercover sting video shows Arizona Democrat candidate hiding true gun control agenda
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2020/10/james-okeefe-strikes-project-veritas-exposes-democrat-mark-kellys-true-plans-crack-second-amendment-rights-video/
 
4A: police ruse to lure man home so they could search him and his car – which were not covered by the warrant unless in close proximity to his residence – ruled an unreasonable search and seizure in child pornography case (9th Circuit)
https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2020/09/25/18-10429.pdf

Discrimination: “Applying a disparate impact standard to school disciplinary policies is both unlawful and unwise….” A “neutral policy” should not be subject to racial quotas preventing discipline for students who should get it.   
http://report.heritage.org/lm271

14A Due Process: it violates Due Process for prosecutor to repeatedly state, and judge to endorse, that the presumption of innocence no longer applies in a case (9th Circuit)
https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2020/09/28/18-15498.pdf

Separation of Powers: federal judge temporarily blocks Trump administration broad suspension of work visas – meant to protect American workers in the wake of COVID – as exceeding power delegated from Congress
https://reason.com/2020/10/04/federal-court-rules-against-trumps-work-visa-ban/

State Constitutions: Michigan Supreme Court rules Governor exceeded her authority under the state constitution in extending emergency pandemic orders after the legislature declined to do so 
https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2020/10/02/michigan-supreme-court-rules-comrade-governor-gretchen-whitmer-exceeded-her-powers-in-covid-compliance-lockdown/

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views the Virginia Christian Alliance

About the Author

Liberato
The above Commentary is provided by Chris Wright. Chris Wright is an independent liberty activist in the leadership of Potomac Tea Party, a national Tea Party based in Northern Virginia. He founded and is president of the first and only nonprofit formed to empower grassroots activists with small financial grants. His primary areas of focus are fighting socialism and deconstructing the false narratives of the Left. He founded the Anticommunism Action Team (ACAT) in 2013 to counter communist influence at home and abroad. ACAT’s Speakers Bureau has presented to the Heritage Foundation and Leadership Institute, and been on Breitbart and LevinTV. Mr. Wright has also formed a number of working groups including a grassroots media echo chamber, a state leaders network, a counter-Antifa action group, a behind-the-scenes anti-sharia group, and a weekly ‘RINO Hunt’ group that endeavors to return the Republican Party to a party of principle again. “We have not even scratched the surface of what we can do if only we will work together, effectively.” Contact: tips@liberato.us