SACRAMENTO – Attorneys with Pacific Justice Institute filed major legal briefs this week asking the federal court in Sacramento to prevent a controversial ban on so-called “change therapy” or “reparative therapy” from taking effect Jan. 1.

The law, known as SB 1172, was passed by the legislature and then signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown the last weekend in September. PJI filed suit immediately to protect the rights of families to seek treatment for sexually confused youth; the rights of mental health professionals to offer their best professional counsel, not a script dictated by the government; and the rights of churches to offer professional counseling consistent with their doctrinal beliefs.

California - A national campaign called ChooseCharity launched Monday, empowering virtually every union worker in America to simply opt-out of union dues and have them diverted to a charity of their choice.

Confirmed by years of case law pursuant to Title VII, unions are required to allow workers to divert their union dues when the worker can show that supporting their union violates their sincerely held religious beliefs, or who have moral convictions against the immoral practices of unions, or who morally disagree with the concept of unions themselves.

Los Angeles – The Pacific Justice Institute (PJI) filed a lawsuit Tuesday against the City of Santa Monica after a nearly 60-year tradition was unconstitutionally terminated by city officials.

Each Christmas season, for nearly 60 years, visitors of the Palisades Park in Santa Monica, California, were able to enjoy diverse displays—privately hosted—featuring different aspects of the Nativity scene. This annual tradition was bombarded in recent years with challenges from adamant atheists.

Venice, FL – The Code Enforcement Board of the City of Venice ended months of legal wrangling today against a family for having an unauthorized "house of worship" in their home. Shane and Marlene Roessiger host a prayer meeting on Friday nights with 6-10 people normally in attendance. City officials made a finding that the Roessigers hold a prayer meeting at their residence once per week and as such ordered them to come into compliance with the City's Code which does not allow a "house of worship" on a property of less than two acres. In addition to the prayer meeting, the family was cited for having a sign which read "Need Prayer (941) 484-4915." The Roessigers faced fines of $250 per day for the violations. At the advice of the City Attorney, the Board voted 6-0 to drop the two matters at a hearing today.