Indiana bill ensuring free speech at colleges moves forward
A bill that doubles down on free speech rights at Indiana’s public colleges and universities was advanced by state lawmakers Thursday.
First Amendment
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Student sues Noblesville High School, claiming school prohibited pro-life club
Alleging Noblesville High School prevented a freshman from organizing a pro-life club because the group’s “political agenda is not aligned with the administration’s agenda,” the student, her parents and her club, Noblesville Students for Life, have filed a lawsuit against the school and several faculty members for violating the rights of free speech and association.
Anti-SLAPP motion sinks in defamation lawsuit brought by scuba school owners
A man who was hit with a defamation lawsuit after he accused a business and business owner of forging paperwork submitted for his diving certification cannot shield himself with the state’s anti-SLAPP statute after the Court of Appeals of Indiana determined his right to free speech had not been sunk.
Indiana lawmakers take up vaccine limits amid COVID-19 surge
Some Indiana doctors and health experts warned Thursday that a Republican-backed proposal aimed at limiting workplace COVID-19 vaccination requirements would hurt efforts to stem the illness as the state’s hospitals are strained with their highest-ever overall patient counts.
Legislation pits religious freedoms against employer rights
It’s one of the trickiest paths an employer must tread: when to make allowances for workers who express sincerely held religious views on matters ranging from work schedules to dress and grooming practices. And for the past year, Indiana employers have faced one more sensitive area: whether to enforce COVID-19 vaccination mandates on workers who say the vaccines violate their religious beliefs.
Court suggests religious schools OK to get Maine tuition aid
The Supreme Court appeared ready Wednesday to rule that religious schools can’t be excluded from a Maine program that offers tuition aid for private education, a decision that could ease religious organizations’ access to taxpayer money.
Ahead of Rittenhouse trial, race seen as underlying issue
Kyle Rittenhouse, the aspiring police officer who gunned down three people in Kenosha, Wisconsin, during a protest against racism and police brutality, is white. So were those he shot. But for many, his trial next week will be watched closely as the latest referendum on race and the American legal system.
Trump asks US judge to force Twitter to restore his account
Former President Donald Trump has asked a federal judge in Florida to force Twitter to restore his account, which the company suspended in January following the deadly storming of the U.S. Capitol.
Rokita joins coalition urging Supreme Court to review religious doctrine case
Indiana has joined a multi-state coalition calling on the U.S. Supreme Court to review a ruling in a Virginia case that denied a tax exemption to a church based on the “government’s interpretation” of its religious doctrine.
7th Circuit says Archdiocese premature in seeking dismissal of Roncalli counselor case
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has dismissed an appeal in the lawsuit brought by former Roncalli High School counselor Lynn Starkey, saying the Archdiocese of Indianapolis’ turn to the appellate court was premature.
Ex-music teacher who refused to follow Brownsburg Schools’ transgender name policy loses on religious discrimination claims
A former Brownsburg music teacher who resigned after refusing to abide by a school policy on how to address transgender students has lost his bid for partial summary judge on his religious discrimination claims against the school district.
En banc 7th Circuit splits over reach of ministerial exception
An Illinois church organist who claimed he was fired as part of a hostile work environment has split the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals over the interpretation of recent U.S. Supreme Court precedent as to how far the ministerial exception protects religious organizations.
Trump announces suits against Facebook, Twitter and Google
Former President Donald Trump announced Wednesday he is filing suits against three of the country’s biggest tech companies: Facebook, Twitter and Google, as well as their CEOs.
US Supreme Court backs Minnesota Amish in septic tank fight
The U.S. Supreme Court sided Friday with members of an Amish group in Minnesota who are fighting efforts by authorities to compel them to install septic systems, sending their appeal back to a state court for reconsideration in light of the high court’s recent ruling in a religious freedom case.
High court: California can’t collect charity top donor names
The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered California to stop collecting the names and addresses of top donors to charities.
Federal judge blocks ‘abortion reversal’ disclosure requirement
A federal judge has blocked a new Indiana law that would have required abortion providers to inform patients about the possibility of “reversing” a medication abortion. The Wednesday ruling prevents House Enrolled Act 1577 from taking effect tomorrow as scheduled.
Teacher’s aide sues former employer after being fired for discussing ‘occult’ items with student
A Chesterton teacher’s aide has sued his former employer with the help of the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana after being fired for speaking with a student about “occult” items after school hours.
Franklin mayor sued for blocking resident on Facebook after BLM video
The mayor of Franklin has been sued by the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana after he allegedly blocked an individual from accessing his Facebook page.
Justices rule for cursing cheerleader over Snapchat post
The Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that a Pennsylvania public school wrongly suspended a student from cheerleading over a vulgar social media post she made after she didn’t qualify for the varsity team.
Court: If bias rules have exceptions, faith groups qualify
Justice Samuel Alito called it a “wisp” of a decision — a Supreme Court ruling Thursday that favored Catholic Social Services in Philadelphia but was far from the constitutional gale wind that would have reshaped how courts interpret religious liberty under the First Amendment.