Liberty Counsel

Two Federal Courts of Appeal Deal Setback to ObamaCare HHS Mandate

Washington, DC—Two federal courts of appeal have dealt a setback to the ObamaCare Health and Human Services (HHS) mandate. Yesterday a federal appeals court in Denver, sitting en banc, sided with the preliminary injunction request of Hobby Lobby, a Christian, family-owned arts and crafts chain with 500 stores in 41 states. Hobby Lobby Founder and CEO David Green drew a line in the sand and said, “We believe people are more important than the bottom line and honoring God is more important than turning a profit.” The court of appeals sent the case back to the lower district court to review the request for the injunction, but based on how the opinion is written, the lower court will almost certainly issue the preliminary injunction.

Orlando Abortion Clinic Raided to Satisfy Multi-million Dollar Malpractice Judgment

Orlando, FL—Yesterday, a moving truck pulled up to Orlando Women’s Center, and authorities emptied the facility of abortion equipment, patient beds, copy machines—everything except patient files. The governmental raid was part of a $37 million malpractice judgment against abortionist James Pendergraft after a baby was born with disabilities following a botched abortion.

Congressional Hearing Reveals That Children in the Womb Feel Pain

Washington, D.C. – Liberty Counsel Action pledged its full support to HR 1797, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, a bill to provide protection for unborn children 20-weeks or older, who have the capacity to experience pain while being aborted.

Liberty Counsel Will Defend Our Armed Forces Charged With Proselytizing

Washington, DC – Liberty Counsel pledges to defend pro bono any member of the armed services who is charged under the Pentagon’s new “proselytizing” policy. In a statement released last week, President Obama’s Pentagon said, “Religious proselytization is not permitted within the Department of Defense . . . Court Martials and nonjudicial punishments are decided on a case-by-case basis.”

Mat Staver Speaks at Israeli Embassy for Israel Solidarity Event

Washington, DC – Today, Mat Staver spoke at the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C., for the twelfth annual Israel Solidarity Event. Dr. Michael Oren, Ambassador of Israel to the United States, and Rev. Malcom Hedding also delivered addresses. The Israel Solidarity Event celebrates Israel’s independence when it became a sovereign nation in 1948 and encourages people to stand in solidarity with Israel to support its right to exist. This is the 65th year of Israel’s independence.

Liberty Counsel Successfully Defends National Day of Prayer Event

North Miami, FL – The City Council of North Miami ignored the threatening, inaccurate letter from the Freedom From Religion Foundation in favor of Mission Miami and local pastors, after a letter from Liberty Counsel.

ObamaCare Unconstitutional on Several Levels, Liberty Counsel Argues

Richmond, VA – Today, Liberty Counsel filed its final brief in Liberty University v. Geithner before the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals hears our case against ObamaCare on May 16. Liberty Counsel represents Liberty University and two private individuals in this case.

Supreme Court Ejects Foreign Suits from U.S. Courts

Washington, DC – The Supreme Court today held that the federal Alien Tort Statute (ATS) cannot be used to challenge foreign conduct in United States courts. In Kiobel v. Royal Dutch Petroleum, the High Court held that the ATS does not “reach conduct occurring in the territory of a foreign sovereign.”

Liberty Counsel Testifies Before Congress on Mismanagement at the Department of Justice

Washington, DC – The House Judiciary Committee today held a hearing on “Mismanagement at the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice” and invited Liberty Counsel’s Senior Litigation Counsel, Harry Mihet, to testify on this troubling subject. Mihet was the lead attorney in Liberty Counsel’s successful defense of Susan Pine, a pro-life woman who endured a two-year, baseless and politically motivated prosecution by the DOJ, under the leadership of Assistant Attorney General Thomas E. Perez. Mr. Perez is President Obama’s nominee for Secretary of Labor.

Army Must Condemn Training Labeling Christians and Catholics as “Extremists”

Washington, DC – Yesterday, Liberty Counsel Action sent a letter to every member of the U.S. House of Representatives urging support for Rep. Doug Lamborn’s (R-Colo) letter to John M. McHugh, Secretary of the Army, calling on him to rescind, apologize, and investigate an Army Reserve training brief that labels Evangelical Christians and Catholics as “religious extremists.”

Marriage is Natural Law – Not Just a Legal Document

Washington, DC – For the last two days, the Supreme Court has heard arguments on reconstructing God’s natural order of family. Yesterday, the Court focused on Proposition 8, California’s State Constitutional Amendment defining marriage as one man and one woman. Today, the High Court heard the case for and against the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), the bipartisan law that affirmed natural marriage for federal purposes.

North Dakota Citizens to Vote on Defining Personhood in State Constitution

Bismarck, ND – Last week the North Dakota legislature became the first state to pass a personhood amendment: “The term ‘person’ or ‘persons’ shall include every human being from the moment of fertilization, cloning, or the functional equivalent thereof.” The decision to amend the state’s Constitution will go before North Dakota voters in November 2014.

Mat Staver Comments on Supreme Court Marriage Arguments

Washington, DC – Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel, commented regarding the oral arguments made today before the Supreme Court in Hollingsworth v. Perry on Proposition 8, the California ballot initiative defining marriage as one man and one woman.

Kansas Becomes Third State This Year to Pass Sweeping Pro-Life Laws

Topeka, KS – The Kansas House of Representatives joins Arkansas and North Dakota in passing comprehensive pro-life legislation. “As with Arkansas and North Dakota, Liberty Counsel will defend this pro-life law pro bono,” pledged Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel. “No rights are more foundational than the right to life. Without life, all other rights are irrelevant.”

Liberty Counsel Supports Pro-Life Legislation Passed in North Dakota

Bismarck, ND – Liberty Counsel is pleased to support pro-life legislation passed last week in North Dakota. The North Dakota Senate overwhelmingly approved two pro-life bills on Friday: the first prohibits aborting a preborn baby because of a genetic defect, such as Down syndrome. The second bans abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected.

Liberty Counsel Offers Pro Bono Defense for Mississippi Student Religious Liberties Act

Jackson, MS – When Gov. Bryan signed the Mississippi Student Religious Liberties Act of 2013, Liberty Counsel pledged pro-bono legal support for school districts who are facing threats from freedom-restricting, atheist groups.

Pornography Leads to Sexual Assault Amongst Children

Pornography & sexual promiscuity are destroying a generation of young people. The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) is reporting that from 2009 to 2012 over 5,000 sexual assaults in England involved a child perpetrator raping or sexually assaulting another child. Of the cases reported, 98 percent of the perpetrators were boys, 20 percent of the victims were a family member, and one third of the victims were a family friend.

Liberty Counsel Files Appellate Brief in the Most Comprehensive Challenge Pending to ObamaCare

Richmond, VA – Following the Supreme Court’s directive to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals in Virginia regarding ObamaCare, Liberty Counsel today filed its brief in the case of Liberty University v. Geithner. Liberty Counsel represents Liberty University and two private individuals in this case. While there are other legal challenges to the employer contraceptive/abortifacient mandate, Liberty Counsel’s challenge is the most comprehensive challenge pending in the country.

Obama Undermines Marriage and Family with Brief on DOMA

Washington, DC – Last Friday, the Obama administration filed a brief urging the Supreme Court to strike down the federal Defense Of Marriage Act (DOMA). Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel, made the following response to that brief:

School Principal Unconstitutionally Censors Guest Speaker of Student Club

Boca Raton, FL – Spanish River Community High School engaged in unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination this week when it halted a student club meeting and led the speaker off campus.