Current Legal Battles

Click the links below to view our press releases.

Atheists’ Suit Against Ministers’ Housing Allowance Lands in Federal Appeals Court

City: 
San Francisco, CA
Date: 
04/07/2010

Opening briefs were filed last week with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco in a lawsuit filed by atheist Michael Newdow and the Freedom From Religion Foundation against a centuries-old practice of giving ministers a “parsonage allowance” or tax exemption for their housing.

The Ninth Circuit will consider who gets to defend the federal and state statutes being challenged. A group of ministers represented by Pacific Justice Institute sought to intervene as defendants in the case, since they would be most directly affected by the outcome of the case.

Harmful “Anti-Bullying” Book Proposals for Alameda Unified School District's K-5th Graders

City: 
Alameda, CA
Date: 
04/01/2010

HARMFUL BOOKS ABOUT “TRANSGENDER”

“All I Want to Be Is Me” by Phyllis Rothblatt (Kindergarten to Grade 5)

City Drops Bid to Shut Down Home Bible Study, But Threat to Others Remains

City: 
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Date: 
03/30/2010

– A city northeast of Los Angeles that sparked national outrage for its attempts to shut down a home Bible study has conceded defeat while hinting that it might try to shutter similar groups.

So. Calif. City to Home Bible Study: Shut Down by Good Friday

City: 
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Date: 
03/16/2010

A city in Southern California is demanding that a small home Bible study group stop meeting because it does not have an expensive permit. The permit is not required for similar-sized gatherings in homes, such as book clubs, birthday parties or gatherings centered around sporting events. City officials have also indicated that they might not even grant a permit if it is requested. The city’s stance has similarities to, but is perhaps even harsher than, a pending situation in Gilbert, Arizona, and a flare-up last year over a home Bible study in San Diego County.

“In God We Trust” and Pledge of Allegiance Found Constitutional by Ninth Circuit

City: 
San Francisco, CA
Date: 
03/11/2010

Today the Ninth Circuit issued two opinions regarding the national motto and the pledge of allegiance. The Court found that neither the motto nor the pledge violate the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause. Dr. Michael Newdow filed the two cases which have garnered national attention.

High School Welcomes Gay Speakers, but Intolerant of an HIV-Positive Christian

City: 
Castro Valley, CA
Date: 
03/09/2010

A Bay Area high school that attracted controversy last year for its "Days of Diversity" program is again welcoming pro-gay speakers this week. But the school has rejected a request to include an HIV-positive speaker who has come out of homosexuality during their Days of Diversity.

High School Broke the Law With Sex Survey for Kids, Parents Say

City: 
Ventura
Date: 
02/23/2010

A sex survey was distributed to students by a high school newspaper at Ventura High School, located in southern California.

PJI Announces Second Annual Baccalaureate Project

City: 
Sacramento, CA
Date: 
02/17/2010

Pacific Justice Institute is announcing its second annual effort to encourage student clubs and churches to host baccalaureate services for high school seniors.

U.S. Supreme Court to Decide Whether Christian Student Clubs Can Prefer Christian Leaders

City: 
San Diego, CA
Date: 
02/08/2010

Pacific Justice Institute has submitted a friend-of-the-court brief to the United States Supreme Court in a closely-watched free speech and association case involving a law school chapter of the Christian Legal Society.

California Court of Appeal Mulls Mall's "Don't Talk to Strangers" Rule

City: 
Sacramento, CA
Date: 
01/27/2010

The California Court of Appeal is considering the constitutionality of a Sacramento-area shopping mall’s attempt to prevent adult patrons from talking to each other about hot-button topics such as religion and politics.