Liberty Counsel

Justina Pelletier is Reunited with her Family after 16 Months

After 16 months of being held prisoner by the bureaucracy of the State of Massachusetts at the behest of Boston Children’s Hospital, Justina Pelletier is home

Justina Pelletier Finally Freed

Boston, MA—Moments ago, Judge Johnson signed an order releasing Justina Pelletier to her parents, Lou and Linda Pelletier!

Motion Filed Today in Court Requests Justina Pelletier Be Returned Home

After nearly 16 months of separation, Justina requires much healing - physically, emotionally, and spiritually

Justina Pelletier Closer to Home

Thompson, CT— Yesterday afternoon, Justina Pelletier was transferred by ambulance to the behavior (psychiatric) wing of the JRI Susan Wayne Center in Thompson, Connecticut, about an hour and a half from her home. While this is a movement in the right direction, the action initiated by the Massachusetts Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Children and Families (DCF) is in lieu of putting her in a medical center or returning her to her family's custody. Justina remains a ward of the state of Massachusetts.

Christian Students Win Equal Access

Leesburg, FL - Last night the Lake County, Florida, School Board voted unanimously to enter into a Consent Decree granting the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) at Mount Dora High School the same rights as other non-curricular student clubs. Liberty Counsel filed a lawsuit earlier this spring and sought a preliminary injunction to immediately end the district’s longstanding discriminatory treatment of FCA. The Consent Decree will be submitted to the federal court in Ocala for approval.

DCF Takes Baby Step in Justina Pelletier Case

Boston, MA— Today, Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF) took a baby-step in the Justina Pelletier case. In an underhanded move, DCF officials released a so-called unification plan to the press before presenting it to Justina’s parents. Instead of returning Justina home to her family, DCF proposed moving Justina to the JRI Susan Wayne Center in Thompson, Connecticut, about an hour from the home of Linda and Lou Pelletier. Liberty Counsel and the Pelletiers released a point-by-point response to the so-call reunification plan.

Supreme Court Upholds Public Prayer

Washington, DC—Today in Town of Greece v. Galloway, the United States Supreme Court ruled that opening a town meeting in prayer does not violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment in a 5-4 decision. Liberty Counsel filed an amicus brief in this case.

Liberty Counsel Cosponsors Israel Solidarity Event

Washington, DC – Liberty Counsel is hosting the Thirteenth Annual Israel Solidarity Event on Thursday, May 2, at the Embassy of Israel. Ambassador H.E. Ron Dermer and Reverend Franklin Graham will be speaking at the event.

Twelfth Annual Graduation Prayer Campaign Begins

Washington, DC - Students are buying their graduation caps and gowns, and Liberty Counsel is launching its annual “Friend or Foe” Graduation Prayer Campaign. The campaign serves to protect religious viewpoints at graduation. Liberty Counsel seeks to educate and, if necessary, litigate to ensure that prayer and religious viewpoints are not suppressed during graduation ceremonies and all through the year.

Alabama Supreme Court Opinion Rules that “Child" Includes “Unborn Child”

Montgomery, AL – Today, in an 8-1 decision authored by Justice Tom Parker, the Alabama Supreme Court held that the word “child” in Alabama’s chemical-endangerment statute applies to the born and unborn in Ex parte Sarah Janie Hicks. This decision follows a similar one handed down last year by the Alabama Supreme Court in Ankrom v. State, where Alabama’s highest court also ruled that the word “child” includes the “unborn child.” In that case, Liberty Counsel’s amicus brief arguing that the protection of the unborn is in keeping with the protections afforded the born in various areas of the law.

Pelletier Family Files Habeas Corpus to Free Justina

Boston, MA – Today, Linda and Lou Pelletier filed a Habeas Corpus pleading with the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. The Petition is filed to a single Justice of the court. The detailed Petition and Memorandum of Law requests that Justina be released from the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF) and be returned to the custody of her parents, Lou and Linda Pelletier. On March 25, 2014, Suffolk Juvenile Judge Joseph Johnston ruled that the custody of Justina will remain with Massachusetts DCF.

Liberty Counsel Seeks to Intervene to Protect Marriage in Florida

TALLAHASSEE, FL – Today, Liberty Counsel filed a Motion to Intervene in Brenner v. Scott and Grimsley v. Scott, lawsuits initiated by homosexual activists seeking to declare Florida’s marriage laws unconstitutional. Liberty Counsel filed the intervention on behalf of Florida Family Action, which actively organized a statewide grassroots effort to pass the Florida Marriage Protection Amendment. This was the largest grassroots effort in the history of Florida and the first constitutional amendment to reach the 60 percent threshold required for passage.

Judge Rules Justina Pelletier to Remain Ward of the State

Boston, MA – Today, Judge Joseph Johnston ruled that the custody of Justina will remain with Massachusetts DCF until a future hearing, which could not be set any earlier than May 20. “Once again, the court is kicking the can down the road. This is unacceptable,” said Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel.

Liberty Counsel Files a Contempt of Court Motion against Massachusetts DCF

Boston, MA – Today, Liberty Counsel will file a contempt of court motion against the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF) in the Justina Pelletier case.

Judge Postpones Ruling on Teen Held by State

Boston, MA – Today, Judge Joseph Johnston postponed the ruling on the custody of Justina Pelletier, who has been held by the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families for 14 months. The judge will issue a ruling on Tuesday.

Justina Pelletier Case Waiting on Ruling From the Judge

Boston, MA – Yesterday the case of Justina Pelletier and her family returned to court before Judge Johnston in the Suffolk County Juvenile Court in Boston. The case has been dragging on for 14 months, during which time she has been denied education, religious services or clergy visits, and has had abysmal or no medical care while in the custody of the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF). She has only been allowed one, hour-long, supervised visit per week with her mom and dad, and they have not been permitted to take photographs of their daughter or even talk to Justina about her medical condition.

Justina Pelletier Case of Teen in DCF Custody Returns to Court

Boston, MA – Today the tragic case of Justina Pelletier will return to court before Judge Johnston in the Suffolk County Juvenile Court in Boston. The case has been dragging on for 14 months, during which time she has been denied education and religious services or clergy visits and has had abysmal medical care while in the custody of the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF). She has only been allowed one hour-long, supervised visit per week with her mom and dad, and they have not been permitted to take photographs of their daughter. But, following new legal pressure asserted by Liberty Counsel and intense media scrutiny, DCF permitted the most recent visitation to be unsupervised. Rev. Pat Mahoney accompanied Lou and Linda Pelletier to visit Justina.

Justina Pelletier Speaks Out - "I feel like a prisoner"

Boston, MA – The tragic case of Justina Pelletier has been dragging on for 14-months during which time she has been denied education, religious services or clergy visit, and has had abysmal medical care while in the custody of the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF).

Pelletiers Tell Their Story to Massachusetts Legislators

Boston, MA – Today the Pelletiers will meet with members of the Massachusetts Legislature to share their 13-month ordeal with the Department of Children and Families (DCF). DCF has unlawfully taken custody of their daughter, Justina, and has withheld medicine, education, and the free exercise of religion, and still refuses to give up custody. “DCF needs to return custody to Justina Pelletier’s parents and should be held accountable for the tragic abuse inflicted by this incompetent agency on the family,” said Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel. “Liberty Counsel will not be satisfied until DCF is completely out of the picture and full custody is returned to Justina’s parents.”

Pelletier Contempt and Gag Order Gone and Care Transferred to Tufts

Boston, MA – Today Juvenile Judge Joseph Johnston approved an agreement between Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF) and the Pelletier family to drop the contempt charges against Lou Pelletier for speaking to the media, dissolve the gag order, and transfer medical care to Tufts Medical Center, where she was treated by Dr. Mark Korson 13 months ago before she went to Boston Children’s Hospital ER. “DCF needs to return custody to Justina Pelletier’s parents, and DCF should be held accountable for the tragic abuse inflicted by this incompetent agency on the family,” said Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel.