Democrats reintroduce Equality Act to ban anti-LGBTQ discrimination
Congressional Democrats on Wednesday reintroduced the Equality Act, which, if signed into law, would be the first federal law protecting LGBTQ+ Americans. “In most states in this country, a gay couple can be married on Saturday, post their wedding photos to Instagram on Sunday, and lose their jobs or get kicked out of their apartments [...]
Federal judge blocks Trump administration birth control rules
A judge for the US District Court for the Northern District of California granted an injunction in the jurisdictions that challenged new rules that would have made it easier for an employer to opt-out of providing health insurance that cover female birth control. The rules were scheduled to go into effect Monday. The injunction is [...]
Federal appeals court rules rejects challenge to 'In God We Trust' on currency
The US Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit ruled Tuesday that the motto, “In God We Trust,” as printed on US currency notes and coins, does not violate the US Constitution. Plaintiffs brought suit against the US and officials from the US Mint, Treasury, and Bureau of Engraving and Printing. In their complaint, plaintiffs alleged the [...]
Judge Kavanaugh and the Public’s Health: Existing & Emerging Challenges
President Donald Trump’s recent nomination of Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh as Associate Justice to the U.S. Supreme Court from a list of potential candidates has ignited immediate support and criticism from conservatives and liberals respectively. An undergrad and law alum at Yale University, Judge Kavanaugh clerked for the departing Justice Anthony Kennedy, practiced law privately [...]
Federal appeals court rejects atheist's argument to remove 'in God we trust' from US currency
The US District Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit on Tuesday rejected atheist Michael Newdow’s argument that “In God We Trust” violates the US Constitution and federal law. Newdow initiated the lawsuit in 2016 in the US District Court for the Northern District of Ohio seeking the removal of the phrase “In God We [...]
Federal appeals court rules for fired transgender funeral director
The US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit on Wednesday struck down an employee termination based on the employee's transgender identity, despite the employer's strong religious beliefs. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) pursued the...
Second federal judge blocks Trump contraception coverage policy
The US District Court for the Northern District of California , on Thursday, granted a preliminary injunction to block the Trump Administration's policy allowing employers with religious or moral objections to deny women insurance coverage for contraceptives. In issuing...
Federal court orders Kentucky to pay attorneys' fees in same-sex marriage litigation
The US District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky issued an order Friday holding the state of Kentucky responsible for attorneys' fees related to litigation involving a county clerk who refused to issue marriage licenses to...
JURIST Guest Columnist Mark R. Killenbeck of the University of Arkansas School of Law discusses Alabama's HB 24 which allows adoption agencies to refuse to place foster children with same-sex couples according to religious beliefs ... In March 1967, a...
Report: NSA collected citizens' phone records despite USA Freedom Act
The National Security Agency (NSA) published a report Tuesday saying that the agency had collected and stored more than 1.5 million civilian phone records in 2016. This report is the first that has been issued since the...
