Gay police officer loses right to make First Amendment case after he was hounded out of the department

A gay police officer who alleged that St. Cloud Police Department refused to allow him his First Amendment rights to work in the Twin Cities Pride Festival even if he used his vacation time lost a bid in federal court on the First Amendment claim. The court did say there was sufficient evidence to pursue [...]

U.S. Supreme Court: Woman wins right to sue over removal of hijab in holding cell

A woman from Orange County, California won a ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court allowing her to sue prison authorities for forcing her to remove her hijab in public, contrary to religious law. Lower courts had ruled that the holding cell where the woman was held was a special zone not subject to laws allowing [...]

Court rules no free speech violation in denying funds for campus religious groups

A federal appeals court ruled that the California State University system did not have to fund religious student groups that exclude members of other religions. The ruling was handed down in a suit brought by a Christian  sorority and Christian fraternity at San Diego State who excluded gays and non-Christians. The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court [...]

California frozen food company sues protesting employees for alleging discrimination

A frozen food company in Vernon, California won a ruling in the state appeals court that said the company could sue protesting employees over an allegation that it was discriminatory in firing workers. -db Courthouse News Service December 16, 2010 By Jeff D. Gorman (CN) – Protesters were not protected from a defamation suit after [...]

University denies student group access to campus

Foundation for Individual Rights in Education claims that Northern Illinois University denied recognition to a student group, “Students for Sensible Drug Policy”, based on a discriminatory policy. -db FIRE Commentary December 6, 2010 DEKALB, Ill., Dec. 6, 2010—Last night, the Northern Illinois University (NIU) Student Association Senate denied recognition for the second time to NIU Students [...]

Opinion: Mississippi school violates prom-goer’s First Amendment rights

The New York Times applauds the federal court decision against a Mississippi school district that prevented a senior girl from attending the prom with her girlfriend as a gay couple. The judge ruled that the district violated the senior girl’s First Amendment right of self-expression and also her right to send the message that women [...]

Law school groups back Hastings in discrimination case

University of California’s Hastings College of Law has gained the support of several law groups in its case before the Supreme Court scheduled for argument on April 19. The school’s Christian Legal Society brought suit to operate on campus with a policy that excludes gays and lesbians. -db The National Law Journal March 22, 2010 [...]

California appeals court rejects arguments justifying racist remarks in East Palo Alto police department

A California district court of appeal ruled that East Palo Alto could discipline a police officer for his racist remarks, rejecting the argument that an alleged “culture of racism” in the department was sufficient to justify the officer’s discriminatory remarks to subordinates. -DB Metropolitan News-Enterprise November 4, 2009 By Kenneth Ofgang A police department’s alleged [...]