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Liberty Counsel

January 01, 1970

For the racehorse, see Liberty Counsel (horse).

Liberty Counsel is a 501(c)(3)[2] tax-exempt religious liberty organization that engages in litigation related to evangelical Christian values.[5] Liberty Counsel was founded in 1989[1] by its chairman Mathew Staver and its president Anita L. Staver, who are attorneys and married to each other. The Southern Poverty Law Center has listed Liberty Counsel as an anti-LGBT hate group, a designation the group has disputed.[6] The group is a Christian ministry.[7]

Liberty Counsel, Inc.
FoundedDecember 26, 1989; 34 years ago (1989-12-26)[1]
FounderMathew D. Staver
Type501(c)(3) nonprofit organization[2]
59-2986294[3]
HeadquartersMaitland, Florida, United States[1]
ServicesPro bono assistance and representation[4]
Mathew Staver
Anita L. Staver
Candice McGuire
Robert Miller
Revenue (2015)
$5,572,566[3]
Expenses (2015)$5,263,709[3]
Employees (2014)
38[a][3]
Volunteers (2014)
264[3]
Websitelc.org

History edit

Liberty Counsel started as a religious liberty organization that focused its litigation efforts on freedom of speech cases.[8] The organization used freedom of speech arguments instead of religious free exercise claims in its cases.[9] In addition to litigation, Liberty Counsel saw education of its members and public officials regarding religious rights as a goal.[10]

Positions and responses edit

In 1990, Liberty Counsel supported a change in public library rules which had excluded religious and political events from library meeting rooms until the ACLU met with a library official.[11]

In 1998, Liberty Counsel was part of a coalition of organizations that backed a state-level "Religious Freedom Restoration Act" in Florida; others supporting the bill were the ACLU, Florida Family Counsel, Aleph Institute and Justice Fellowship.[12]

In 2009, a Liberty Counsel attorney from its Tennessee office worked with city commissioners to draft an ordinance limiting the permitted locations for adult bookstores and similar establishments.[13]

In 2011, the organization expressed that defining "personhood" as beginning at conception was a path to barring abortion.[14]

Liberty Counsel opposed the repeal of the U.S. military's former policy "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" that banned personnel from openly identifying as gay, lesbian, or bisexual.[15] The group opposes the addition of sexual orientation, gender identity, or similar provisions to hate crimes legislation,[16] including the anti-lynching bill passed unanimously by the Senate in 2018.[17] The group issued a statement, saying that an "anti-lynching bill should apply to everyone".[18] It also opposes same-sex marriage and same-sex civil unions.[19]

Liberty Counsel has been listed as an anti-gay group by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC).[20] In 2015, SPLC listed the group as a hate group, in part because Liberty Counsel opposes LGBT participation in scouting and because Liberty Counsel's leadership implicitly compared gay men to pedophiles.[21][22] Liberty Counsel has challenged that SPLC's designation[23] and the Associated Press's reporting thereof.[24] Fox News referred to that designation as a "smear".[25]

In 2017, Liberty Counsel sued GuideStar USA, Inc., an information service specializing in U.S. nonprofit ratings, for flagging Liberty Counsel as having been labeled a hate group by the SPLC. In 2018, a Virginia federal judge dismissed Liberty Counsel's suit, ruling that GuideStar's "expressive right to comment on social issues" was protected by the First Amendment. The SPLC was not named in the lawsuit.[26] The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit rejected Liberty Counsel's appeal.[27] GuideStar removed the SPLC annotations from the entries for Liberty Counsel and 45 other organizations shortly after adding them, citing "harassment and threats directed at our staff and leadership" and "our commitment to objectivity and our concerns for our staff's wellbeing."[28]

In 2020, Liberty Counsel launched "ReOpen Church Sunday" to encourage Christian leaders in the United States to hold in-person services on the first weekend of May. On-site religious services had stopped in some locations due to the coronavirus pandemic.[29]

Activities edit

Orlando Magic general manager Pat Williams was the scheduled keynote speaker for the organization's kick off banquet in 1990.[30]

In 2000, Liberty Counsel threatened legal action against a public library in Jacksonville, Florida after the library held a party that featured readings from Harry Potter books and distributed "Hogwarts' Certificate of Accomplishment" to the children who attended.[31] Staver said, "Witchcraft is a religion, and the certificate of witchcraft endorsed a particular religion in violation of the First Amendment's Establishment Clause."[32][33]

Liberty Counsel sponsors an annual "Day of Purity" campaign where youth wear white T-shirts to show their commitment to sexual abstinence until marriage.[34][35][36]

In December 2005, Liberty Counsel issued a press release accusing an elementary school in Dodgeville, Wisconsin, of changing the lyrics of Christmas songs to make them more secular, and said that it would sue the school district "if the district does not immediately remedy the situation." The school was putting on the play "The Little Tree's Christmas Gift", written by Dwight Elrich, a former church choir director.[37] Liberty Counsel represented a parent who objected to using secular lyrics to the tune of Silent Night.[38] The Dodgeville school district sought a retraction and an apology from Liberty Counsel, as well as reimbursement of $20,000 spent in personnel, security, and attorney fees to fight the accusation. Liberty Counsel's Staver refused, asserting, "There is nothing to apologize for or retract."[39]

When a Deltona, Florida city hall Black History Month display intended to include only memorabilia provided by city employees removed religiously-themed paintings by Lloyd Marcus, Liberty Counsel sued. The city opened up the display to material provided by citizens, including Marcus, while saying that this change was not occasioned by the suit.[40][41]

In November 2015, a Wisconsin school cancelled plans to read the book I am Jazz, by Jessica Herthel and transgender teen Jazz Jennings, after Liberty Counsel threatened a lawsuit.[42] The planned reading had been to help the students comprehend what one of their fellow students was going through and to give her support. In response to the cancellation, a public reading of the book was held at the local library the following month, an event that drew an attendance of almost 600 people.[43] This led to similar reading events held in dozens of public schools, churches, community centers, and libraries in eight states on January 14, 2016,[44] and then the recurring annual event "Jazz & Friends", backed by the National Educational Association and the Human Rights Campaign.[45][46]

In March, 2020, Liberty Counsel defended a Florida megachurch pastor who was arrested for "unlawful assembly" after holding church services in violation of a public health emergency order.[47] Charges against the pastor were later dropped after Florida Governor DeSantis declared churches an essential activity.[48]

Liberty Counsel engaged in attempts to overturn the 2020 United States presidential election in favor of Donald Trump after the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol. In an email about the event, Chairman Staver characterized the rioting crowd as "concerned marchers."[49][50] Staver also wrote that Liberty Counsel condemns the violence that broke out.[51]

In March 2021, the organization wrote a letter to the Dean of the Louisiana State University School of Dentistry, Robert Laughlin, denouncing his mandate that all dentistry students receive a vaccine for COVID19, and calling the mandate a violation of religious liberties. This campaign resulted in LSU revising the vaccine mandate.[52]

Loyola University refused to grant exemptions to students from its vaccine mandate, but reversed course after Liberty Counsel threatened a lawsuit.[53]

Lawsuits edit

In 1993, Liberty Counsel sued the Orlando airport over a literature distribution policy that required proof of liability insurance.[54] The court granted the couple who sought to distribute religious literature a 10-day restraining order allowing them to distribute their material, but refused to extend it beyond the date originally requested. The attorney for the airport said that the couple had not completed the form needed to distribute literature, and that homeowners could generally get the needed insurance for $10.[55] After the couple filed an appeal, the airport stopped requiring those who want to pass out literature to obtain a $100,000 insurance policy and changed what information was placed on badges that such distributors were required to wear.[56]

Liberty Counsel filed a federal lawsuit challenging a 1993 injunction restricting protests near an abortion facility. Liberty Counsel represented the plaintiffs challenging the injunction, which barred protesters from interfering with those entering or exiting an abortion facility within a 36-foot buffer zone. The Florida Supreme Court upheld the injunction but a federal appeals court stuck down the injunction. The case, Madsen v. Women's Health Center, Inc. reached the U.S. Supreme Court, which in 1994 upheld part of the injunction prohibiting protests within 36 feet of the facility and making loud noises, while invalidating the part of the injunction that placed a 300-foot ban on approaching patients or the homes of facility staff, finding that this was too restrictive.[57] The Court ruled 6-3 striking down the 300-foot zone around people going in and out of the clinic and striking down the prohibition against images "observable" from inside the clinic.[58] The court upheld the 36-foot buffer zone.[59] An audio recording of the case was made by the Supreme Court.[60]

In 2000, the group represented eight absentee voters in a lawsuit over recounting ballots for the presidential election.[61][62]

In Lawrence v. Texas (2003), the group submitted an amicus curiae brief urging the Supreme Court to uphold a Texas statute that criminalized homosexual sodomy.[63]

The Supreme Court agreed to take a case in 2004 regarding displays of Ten Commandments on government property. Liberty Counsel represented Kentucky counties that posted copies in courthouses.[64]

Liberty Counsel represented Dixie County, Florida against the American Civil Liberties Union in a 2007 lawsuit involving a Ten Commandments monument.[65]

In 2010, Liberty Counsel filed a lawsuit against Obamacare but the Supreme Court declined to take the case. In 2012, the High Court ordered an appeals court to reconsider the case.[66][67]

After New York enacted the Marriage Equality Act, legalizing same-sex marriage in New York, in 2011, Liberty Counsel sued, seeking to invalidate the law. The New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, rejected Liberty Counsel's claim, and in 2012, the state's highest court declined to hear a further appeal.[68][69]

In 2012, Liberty Counsel unsuccessfully maintained a case[70] at the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia on behalf of Liberty University against the Affordable Care Act. On July 12, 2013, the appeals court upheld the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act over Liberty's arguments against the "employer mandate."[71]

In the case of Miller v. Davis, Liberty Counsel represented Rowan County (Kentucky) Clerk Kim Davis, an Apostolic Christian who in 2015, stopped issuing marriage licenses after the Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples have the right to marry. She lost an earlier ruling in 2015[72] and in 2016, the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed an injunction against her at the request of Liberty Counsel after a new Kentucky law was passed that made the case moot. At the same time, they refused to vacate a contempt decree against her.[73] Liberty Counsel filed for a stay pending appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court, which refused to hear the case.[74][75] The case was dismissed as moot on April 19, 2016.[76]

Liberty Counsel also represented former Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis who has fought issuing any marriage licenses because she did not want to issue licenses to same-sex couples based on her religious objection.[77][78] The case was petitioned before the U.S. Supreme Court, which denied certiorari in October 2020.[79] The issue before the Court was her qualified immunity defense.[80]

After a Massachusetts public library denied Liberty Counsel's requests in 2013 and 2014 to use a meeting room for prayer, singing hymns and presenting Christian ideas, the group sued. The library then changed its policy to allowed religious and political viewpoints.[81]

In 2021, a federal appeals court ruled in favor of Liberty Counsel's client, Jackson County, Indiana, by upholding a Christmas display including a Nativity scene in front of a county building. After the Freedom From Religion Foundation demanded that Jackson County remove the Nativity scene, the ACLU filed suit on behalf of a taxpayer. The ACLU won in the lower court, but was reversed on appeal.[82]

In May 2021, California Governor Gavin Newsom agreed to pay $1,350,000 to Liberty Counsel for attorneys fees and costs in a case brought on behalf of Harvest Rock Church and Harvest Rock International Ministries. The settlement includes a statewide injunction against California's COVID-19 restrictions on places of worship.[83][84]

In late 2021, Liberty Counsel filed suit in Florida on behalf of members of the U.S. military who had religious objections to taking COVID-19 vaccinations. The lawsuit claims that military rules permitted medical exemptions but not religious exemptions violates the First Amendment and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.[85]

On May 2, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a unanimous 9-0 decision in favor of Liberty Counsel's client that had been prevented from flying a Christian flag in Boston.[86] The Court held that the city violated the constitution by approving 284 applications to use its flagpole in the city plaza, but refusing to allow a Christian group to fly its flag. Although Boston contended that the flags were "government speech" and not private speech protected by the First Amendment, the Supreme Court disagreed.[87]

List of U.S. Supreme Court cases:

Founder edit

Liberty Counsel's founder, Mathew Staver, was dean of Liberty University School of Law for eight-and-a-half years. He worked to start the school with Jerry Falwell, Sr.[88][89]

Related organizations edit

Liberty Counsel currently or previously had interlocking boards with other organizations.[3]

  • Luke 1827 Foundation Inc.[3]
  • Liberty Counsel Action (FL)[3]
  • Liberty Counsel Action (VA)[3]
  • Freedom Federation Inc.[3]
  • Liberty Action PAC Inc.[3]
  • Liberty Mission Trust[3]
  • Liberty Action Mission Trust[3]
  • Freedom Mission Trust[3]
  • Salt and Light Council[3]

See also edit

Publications edit

  • Judicial Tyranny - The Faith & Freedom Series - ISBN 0-9662079-1-2
  • Eternal Vigilance - Knowing and Protecting Your Religious Freedom - ISBN 0-8054-4000-3
  • Faith and Freedom: A Complete Handbook for Defending Your Religious Rights - ISBN 0891078355
  • Religious Expression in the Public Schools - ISBN 0966207955
  • Same-Sex Marriage - Putting Every Household at Risk - ISBN 0-8054-3196-9
  • Take Back America - ISBN 0966207971

Notes edit

  1. ^ In addition, 2 leased employees and 36 employees of another nonprofit organization provided services to Liberty Counsel.[3]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Liberty Counsel, Inc.". Detail by Entity Name. Division of Corporations. Florida Department of State. Accessed on July 6, 2016.
  2. ^ a b "Liberty Counsel Inc." Exempt Organizations Select Check. Internal Revenue Service. Accessed on July 6, 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax". Liberty Counsel Inc. Guidestar. June 30, 2015.
  4. ^ "About Liberty Counsel". Liberty Counsel. Accessed July 6, 2016.
  5. ^ Hetzner, Amy (March 23, 2001). . Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on September 1, 2017. Retrieved 2016-08-05.
  6. ^ Walters, Joanna; Thielman, Sam (2016-02-03). "Liberty Counsel: the law firm whose mission is to defend 'God's authority'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2020-05-07.
  7. ^ Andrea Diaz (7 December 2018). "Elementary school principal placed on leave after banning all things Christmas from classrooms". CNN. Retrieved 2020-08-03.
  8. ^ Niebuhr, Gustav (July 8, 1995). "Conservatives' New Frontier: Religious Liberty Law Firms". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  9. ^ Hacker, Hans J. (2005). The culture of conservative Christian litigation. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. pp. 39–41. ISBN 0742534456.
  10. ^ Kjupe, Paul A.; Olson, Laura R. (2014). Encyclopedia of American Religion and Politics. New York: Infobase. p. 121. ISBN 978-1438130200.
  11. ^ Banks, Adelle M. (February 23, 1990). "In Defense of Religious Freedom Lawyer-Pastor: Right to Worship Threatened". The Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on September 17, 2020. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  12. ^ Christine Walker (April 8, 1998). "Religious Freedom Act Clears Committee". Sun-Sentinel.
  13. ^ Witt, Terry (February 26, 2009). "City approves two sex-business ordinances". Levy County Journal. pp. A1, A5. Archived from the original on August 19, 2020. Retrieved August 19, 2009.
  14. ^ Fausset, Richard (November 4, 2011). "Mississippi attempts to define the start of personhood". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2020-07-20.
  15. ^ Catholic Online. . catholic.org. Archived from the original on 2011-06-06.
  16. ^ "Social Conservatives Mount Last-Ditch Effort to Stop Hate Crimes Bill". Fox News. 2015-03-26. Retrieved 2022-05-05.
  17. ^ "Evangelical group wants gays removed from anti-lynching bill". NBC News. 9 January 2019. Retrieved 2019-01-13.
  18. ^ Lockhart, P. R. (2019-01-11). "An evangelical group is trying to strip LGBTQ protections from an anti-lynching bill". Vox. Retrieved 2020-07-21.
  19. ^ "Liberty Counsel website - Advancing Family Values". Archived from the original on 2010-08-19. Retrieved 2019-01-13. First case ever to declare a Vermont civil union is not equivalent to marriage, and a state and federal Defense of Marriage Act permits a state to ban same sex unions.
  20. ^ "Active Anti-LGBT Groups". Southern Poverty Law Center.
  21. ^ "Active Hate Groups in the United States in 2014". Southern Poverty Law Center.
  22. ^ Boy Scouts Organization Demise. Podcast, Liberty Counsel. Aug 11, 2015. https://www.lc.org/faith-and-freedom-full-article/boy-scouts-organization-demise[permanent dead link]
  23. ^ "Liberty Counsel challenges SPLC 'hate group' label". onenewsnow.com. Retrieved 2015-10-26.
  24. ^ "Kim Davis' Attorneys Attack Associated Press For Identifying Them As A "Hate Group"". Media Matters for America. 21 October 2015. Retrieved 2015-10-27.
  25. ^ "Southern Poverty Law Center brands some peaceful groups as 'hate groups'". Fox News. 2017-07-14. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
  26. ^ "Maitland-based Liberty Counsel loses lawsuit over 'hate group' label". Orlando Sentinel. Associated Press. 24 January 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  27. ^ Liberty Counsel, Inc. v. Guidestar USA, Inc., No. 18-1157 (4th Cir. 2018) (pur curiam) (unpub.).
  28. ^ "Update Regarding SPLC Flags on GuideStar Nonprofit Profiles". GuideStar. 23 June 2017. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  29. ^ Jenkins, Jack (April 23, 2020). "Conservative group calls for 'ReOpen Church Sunday'". Religion News Service. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  30. ^ "Lecture has Ethical Dose on Medicine". Orlando Sentinel. February 17, 1990. Retrieved 2020-10-08.
  31. ^ . staugustine.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-10-26.
  32. ^ . American Library Assoc. Archived from the original on October 13, 2008. Retrieved October 22, 2008.
  33. ^ Fowler, Sarah (September 14, 2015). "The legal team behind Kentucky's defiant clerk". BBC. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  34. ^ Ave, Melanie (August 27, 2005). "More teens today just saying no _ to sex". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 2020-07-21.
  35. ^ "Day Of Purity - Liberty Counsel". Liberty Counsel Day of Purity. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  36. ^ Jacobson, Susan (February 11, 2013). "Day of Purity provides alternative to Valentine's Day". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  37. ^ "Have a Holly, Jolly Holiday", The Washington Post, Dec. 20, 2005.
  38. ^ Lewin, Adrienne (December 9, 2005). "Critics Aren't Keeping Quiet Over 'Silent Night' Lyrics Change". ABC News. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  39. ^ "Haven't heard last on 'Silent Night'; Wis. school board is seeking redress from Christian legal group", Richmond Times-Dispatch, January 14, 2006.
  40. ^ Peppard, Jim (17 February 2006). "City of Deltona Agrees to Hang Disputed Religious Paintings". 10 Tampa Bay. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  41. ^ Sarmah, Satta (January 5, 2009). "Faith in the Law". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on July 20, 2020. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  42. ^ "Wisconsin School Cancels Book Reading About Transgender Teen After Lawsuit Threat". Time. Retrieved 2020-05-29.
  43. ^ Finn, Amanda (December 3, 2015). "In response to controversy, hundreds pack Mount Horeb library for reading of transgender book". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  44. ^ Erickson, Doug (January 14, 2016). "Inspired by Mount Horeb, 'I Am Jazz' book is read across the country Thursday". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  45. ^ Reistad, Meghan (December 7, 2017). "MMSD supports transgender and nonbinary youth with "I Am Jazz" book reading". Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  46. ^ "Save the Date for "Jazz & Friends" 2020". Human Rights Campaign. August 29, 2019. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  47. ^ Parke, Caleb (March 30, 2020). "Florida pastor's legal team responds to 'entirely inappropriate' arrest". Fox News. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  48. ^ Martin, Mark (May 15, 2020). "Charges Dropped Against FL Pastor Rodney Howard-Browne, Arrested for Holding Church During Stay-at-Home Orders". CBN News. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  49. ^ Holmes, Juwan J. (January 8, 2021). "Anti-LGBTQ group still praying that God will give Donald Trump "a miraculous victory"". LGBTQ Nation.
  50. ^ Staver, Mat. "The Future Hope of the Republic". Liberty Counsel. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  51. ^ Staver, Mathew (January 7, 2021). "The Future Hope of the Republic - Liberty Counsel". Liberty Counsel. Retrieved 2021-02-05.
  52. ^ "LSU Dental School backtracks, won't require COVID vaccines amid religious liberty concerns". 25 March 2021.
  53. ^ Richards, Tori (August 7, 2021). "Loyola University students win battle over COVID-19 vaccine". Yahoo News. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  54. ^ Banks, Adelle (April 6, 1993). "Airport Sued Over Strict Rules On Religious Tracts". The Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on July 20, 2020. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  55. ^ Leusner, Jim (April 21, 1993). "Judge's Ruling Puts Halt to Religious Handouts". Orlando Sentinel.
  56. ^ Banks, Adelle (May 7, 1993). "Airport Eases Soliciting Rules". The Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on July 20, 2020. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  57. ^ Crawford, Craig (July 1, 1994). "Court Keeps Protesters at Distance". The Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on July 20, 2020. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  58. ^ 1994 article (PDF)
  59. ^ Madsen v. Women's Health Center - Cornell University
  60. ^ Madsen v. Women's Health Center, Inc. - Oral Argument, U.S. Supreme Court Media
  61. ^ Staff, Kevin P. Connolly,Rene Stutzman and Robert Perez of The Sentinel (22 November 2000). "GOP NERVOUSLY KEEPING TABS ON SEMINOLE SUIT". OrlandoSentinel.com. Archived from the original on August 3, 2020. Retrieved 2020-08-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  62. ^ Bloodsworth, Doris (6 December 2000). "SPONTANEOUS RALLIES ARE CAREFULLY STAGED". OrlandoSentinel.com. Archived from the original on 2020-08-03. Retrieved 2020-08-03.
  63. ^ Dale Carpenter, Flagrant Conduct: The Story of Lawrence v. Texas (NY: W.W. Norton, 2012), 204-5
  64. ^ "Court takes on Commandments case". 2004-10-12. Retrieved 2020-07-20.
  65. ^ "Ten Commandments stand at Dixie courthouse, after lawsuit is dismissed". Gainesville.com. Retrieved 2015-10-26.
  66. ^ Group, Sinclair Broadcast (2014-07-02). "Liberty Reacts to 'Hobby Lobby' Ruling". WSET. Retrieved 2020-07-20.
  67. ^ "Supreme Court revives Obamacare challenge". Baptist Press. 26 November 2012. Retrieved 2020-07-20.
  68. ^ Snow, Justin (6 August 2012). . Metro Weekly. Archived from the original on 17 August 2012. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  69. ^ Lovett, Ken (October 23, 2012). "Court of Appeals refuses to hear gay marriage appeal". Metro Weekly. Archived from the original on January 4, 2013. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
  70. ^
  71. ^ Liberty University v. Lew (PDF)
  72. ^ Justin, Wm. Moyer (13 August 2015). "Federal judge orders Christian clerk to issue same-sex marriage licenses". Washington Post. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
  73. ^ "WLWT5". July 13, 2016. Retrieved July 29, 2016.
  74. ^ Wynn, Mike. "Rowan gay marriage licenses upheld on appeal". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved 2020-07-20.
  75. ^ Liptak, Adam (August 31, 2015). "Supreme Court Says Kentucky Clerk Must Let Gay Couples Marry". The New York Times. Retrieved August 31, 2015.
  76. ^ "Miller v Davis | Judiciaries | Government". Scribd. Retrieved 2020-07-20.
  77. ^ Kentucky Clerk's Request For A Stay Is Denied By US Supreme Court NPR
  78. ^ "Couples denied marriage licenses can sue Kim Davis". The Mercury News. 2019-08-23. Retrieved 2020-05-15.
  79. ^ "Supreme court rejects appeal from clerk who refused to register gay marriage". 2020-10-05. Retrieved 2020-10-08.
  80. ^ Howe, Amy (October 5, 2020). "Justices issue new orders from last week's conference; Thomas criticizes same-sex marriage ruling". SCOTUSblog. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  81. ^ Troknya, Mark (April 28, 2016). "Library Meeting Room Conflicts". Public Library Association. Retrieved 2020-10-08.
  82. ^ Magdaleno, Johnny (February 4, 2021). "Nativity scene OK in front of Jackson County Courthouse, federal appeals court rules". www.msn.com. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
  83. ^ Mayberry, Carly (May 20, 2021). "Pasadena's Harvest Church wins lawsuit against Gavin Newsom, lifting worship restrictions". Newsweek. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
  84. ^ Blankley, Bethany (May 18, 2021). "California settles lawsuits over COVID worship restrictions". Microsoft News. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
  85. ^ Myers, Meghann (February 18, 2022). "Could the Supreme Court strike down the military's vaccination mandate?". Military Times. Retrieved 2022-05-05.
  86. ^ Fritze, John. "Supreme Court: Boston can't deny Christian flag if it flies other flags on City Hall flagpole". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
  87. ^ "Boston's ban on Christian group's flag at city hall illegal, US supreme court rules". The Guardian. 2022-05-02. Retrieved 2022-05-05.
  88. ^ Anderson, Lisa (May 21, 2007). "Falwell saw law school as tool to alter society". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2022-05-05.
  89. ^ "President announces resignation of Liberty Law Dean Mat Staver | Liberty University". www.liberty.edu. 20 October 2014. Retrieved 2020-05-15.

External links edit

  • Official website

January 01, 1970
liberty, counsel, racehorse, horse, exempt, religious, liberty, organization, that, engages, litigation, related, evangelical, christian, values, founded, 1989, chairman, mathew, staver, president, anita, staver, attorneys, married, each, other, southern, pove. For the racehorse see Liberty Counsel horse Liberty Counsel is a 501 c 3 2 tax exempt religious liberty organization that engages in litigation related to evangelical Christian values 5 Liberty Counsel was founded in 1989 1 by its chairman Mathew Staver and its president Anita L Staver who are attorneys and married to each other The Southern Poverty Law Center has listed Liberty Counsel as an anti LGBT hate group a designation the group has disputed 6 The group is a Christian ministry 7 Liberty Counsel Inc FoundedDecember 26 1989 34 years ago 1989 12 26 1 FounderMathew D StaverType501 c 3 nonprofit organization 2 Tax ID no 59 2986294 3 HeadquartersMaitland Florida United States 1 ServicesPro bono assistance and representation 4 ChairmanMathew StaverPresidentAnita L StaverSecretaryCandice McGuireTreasurerRobert MillerRevenue 2015 5 572 566 3 Expenses 2015 5 263 709 3 Employees 2014 38 a 3 Volunteers 2014 264 3 Websitelc wbr org Contents 1 History 2 Positions and responses 2 1 Activities 2 2 Lawsuits 3 Founder 4 Related organizations 5 See also 6 Publications 7 Notes 8 References 9 External linksHistory editLiberty Counsel started as a religious liberty organization that focused its litigation efforts on freedom of speech cases 8 The organization used freedom of speech arguments instead of religious free exercise claims in its cases 9 In addition to litigation Liberty Counsel saw education of its members and public officials regarding religious rights as a goal 10 Positions and responses editIn 1990 Liberty Counsel supported a change in public library rules which had excluded religious and political events from library meeting rooms until the ACLU met with a library official 11 In 1998 Liberty Counsel was part of a coalition of organizations that backed a state level Religious Freedom Restoration Act in Florida others supporting the bill were the ACLU Florida Family Counsel Aleph Institute and Justice Fellowship 12 In 2009 a Liberty Counsel attorney from its Tennessee office worked with city commissioners to draft an ordinance limiting the permitted locations for adult bookstores and similar establishments 13 In 2011 the organization expressed that defining personhood as beginning at conception was a path to barring abortion 14 Liberty Counsel opposed the repeal of the U S military s former policy Don t Ask Don t Tell that banned personnel from openly identifying as gay lesbian or bisexual 15 The group opposes the addition of sexual orientation gender identity or similar provisions to hate crimes legislation 16 including the anti lynching bill passed unanimously by the Senate in 2018 17 The group issued a statement saying that an anti lynching bill should apply to everyone 18 It also opposes same sex marriage and same sex civil unions 19 Liberty Counsel has been listed as an anti gay group by the Southern Poverty Law Center SPLC 20 In 2015 SPLC listed the group as a hate group in part because Liberty Counsel opposes LGBT participation in scouting and because Liberty Counsel s leadership implicitly compared gay men to pedophiles 21 22 Liberty Counsel has challenged that SPLC s designation 23 and the Associated Press s reporting thereof 24 Fox News referred to that designation as a smear 25 In 2017 Liberty Counsel sued GuideStar USA Inc an information service specializing in U S nonprofit ratings for flagging Liberty Counsel as having been labeled a hate group by the SPLC In 2018 a Virginia federal judge dismissed Liberty Counsel s suit ruling that GuideStar s expressive right to comment on social issues was protected by the First Amendment The SPLC was not named in the lawsuit 26 The U S Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit rejected Liberty Counsel s appeal 27 GuideStar removed the SPLC annotations from the entries for Liberty Counsel and 45 other organizations shortly after adding them citing harassment and threats directed at our staff and leadership and our commitment to objectivity and our concerns for our staff s wellbeing 28 In 2020 Liberty Counsel launched ReOpen Church Sunday to encourage Christian leaders in the United States to hold in person services on the first weekend of May On site religious services had stopped in some locations due to the coronavirus pandemic 29 Activities edit Orlando Magic general manager Pat Williams was the scheduled keynote speaker for the organization s kick off banquet in 1990 30 In 2000 Liberty Counsel threatened legal action against a public library in Jacksonville Florida after the library held a party that featured readings from Harry Potter books and distributed Hogwarts Certificate of Accomplishment to the children who attended 31 Staver said Witchcraft is a religion and the certificate of witchcraft endorsed a particular religion in violation of the First Amendment s Establishment Clause 32 33 Liberty Counsel sponsors an annual Day of Purity campaign where youth wear white T shirts to show their commitment to sexual abstinence until marriage 34 35 36 In December 2005 Liberty Counsel issued a press release accusing an elementary school in Dodgeville Wisconsin of changing the lyrics of Christmas songs to make them more secular and said that it would sue the school district if the district does not immediately remedy the situation The school was putting on the play The Little Tree s Christmas Gift written by Dwight Elrich a former church choir director 37 Liberty Counsel represented a parent who objected to using secular lyrics to the tune of Silent Night 38 The Dodgeville school district sought a retraction and an apology from Liberty Counsel as well as reimbursement of 20 000 spent in personnel security and attorney fees to fight the accusation Liberty Counsel s Staver refused asserting There is nothing to apologize for or retract 39 When a Deltona Florida city hall Black History Month display intended to include only memorabilia provided by city employees removed religiously themed paintings by Lloyd Marcus Liberty Counsel sued The city opened up the display to material provided by citizens including Marcus while saying that this change was not occasioned by the suit 40 41 In November 2015 a Wisconsin school cancelled plans to read the book I am Jazz by Jessica Herthel and transgender teen Jazz Jennings after Liberty Counsel threatened a lawsuit 42 The planned reading had been to help the students comprehend what one of their fellow students was going through and to give her support In response to the cancellation a public reading of the book was held at the local library the following month an event that drew an attendance of almost 600 people 43 This led to similar reading events held in dozens of public schools churches community centers and libraries in eight states on January 14 2016 44 and then the recurring annual event Jazz amp Friends backed by the National Educational Association and the Human Rights Campaign 45 46 In March 2020 Liberty Counsel defended a Florida megachurch pastor who was arrested for unlawful assembly after holding church services in violation of a public health emergency order 47 Charges against the pastor were later dropped after Florida Governor DeSantis declared churches an essential activity 48 Liberty Counsel engaged in attempts to overturn the 2020 United States presidential election in favor of Donald Trump after the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol In an email about the event Chairman Staver characterized the rioting crowd as concerned marchers 49 50 Staver also wrote that Liberty Counsel condemns the violence that broke out 51 In March 2021 the organization wrote a letter to the Dean of the Louisiana State University School of Dentistry Robert Laughlin denouncing his mandate that all dentistry students receive a vaccine for COVID19 and calling the mandate a violation of religious liberties This campaign resulted in LSU revising the vaccine mandate 52 Loyola University refused to grant exemptions to students from its vaccine mandate but reversed course after Liberty Counsel threatened a lawsuit 53 Lawsuits edit In 1993 Liberty Counsel sued the Orlando airport over a literature distribution policy that required proof of liability insurance 54 The court granted the couple who sought to distribute religious literature a 10 day restraining order allowing them to distribute their material but refused to extend it beyond the date originally requested The attorney for the airport said that the couple had not completed the form needed to distribute literature and that homeowners could generally get the needed insurance for 10 55 After the couple filed an appeal the airport stopped requiring those who want to pass out literature to obtain a 100 000 insurance policy and changed what information was placed on badges that such distributors were required to wear 56 Liberty Counsel filed a federal lawsuit challenging a 1993 injunction restricting protests near an abortion facility Liberty Counsel represented the plaintiffs challenging the injunction which barred protesters from interfering with those entering or exiting an abortion facility within a 36 foot buffer zone The Florida Supreme Court upheld the injunction but a federal appeals court stuck down the injunction The case Madsen v Women s Health Center Inc reached the U S Supreme Court which in 1994 upheld part of the injunction prohibiting protests within 36 feet of the facility and making loud noises while invalidating the part of the injunction that placed a 300 foot ban on approaching patients or the homes of facility staff finding that this was too restrictive 57 The Court ruled 6 3 striking down the 300 foot zone around people going in and out of the clinic and striking down the prohibition against images observable from inside the clinic 58 The court upheld the 36 foot buffer zone 59 An audio recording of the case was made by the Supreme Court 60 In 2000 the group represented eight absentee voters in a lawsuit over recounting ballots for the presidential election 61 62 In Lawrence v Texas 2003 the group submitted an amicus curiae brief urging the Supreme Court to uphold a Texas statute that criminalized homosexual sodomy 63 The Supreme Court agreed to take a case in 2004 regarding displays of Ten Commandments on government property Liberty Counsel represented Kentucky counties that posted copies in courthouses 64 Liberty Counsel represented Dixie County Florida against the American Civil Liberties Union in a 2007 lawsuit involving a Ten Commandments monument 65 In 2010 Liberty Counsel filed a lawsuit against Obamacare but the Supreme Court declined to take the case In 2012 the High Court ordered an appeals court to reconsider the case 66 67 After New York enacted the Marriage Equality Act legalizing same sex marriage in New York in 2011 Liberty Counsel sued seeking to invalidate the law The New York Supreme Court Appellate Division rejected Liberty Counsel s claim and in 2012 the state s highest court declined to hear a further appeal 68 69 In 2012 Liberty Counsel unsuccessfully maintained a case 70 at the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond Virginia on behalf of Liberty University against the Affordable Care Act On July 12 2013 the appeals court upheld the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act over Liberty s arguments against the employer mandate 71 In the case of Miller v Davis Liberty Counsel represented Rowan County Kentucky Clerk Kim Davis an Apostolic Christian who in 2015 stopped issuing marriage licenses after the Supreme Court ruled that same sex couples have the right to marry She lost an earlier ruling in 2015 72 and in 2016 the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed an injunction against her at the request of Liberty Counsel after a new Kentucky law was passed that made the case moot At the same time they refused to vacate a contempt decree against her 73 Liberty Counsel filed for a stay pending appeal with the U S Supreme Court which refused to hear the case 74 75 The case was dismissed as moot on April 19 2016 76 Liberty Counsel also represented former Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis who has fought issuing any marriage licenses because she did not want to issue licenses to same sex couples based on her religious objection 77 78 The case was petitioned before the U S Supreme Court which denied certiorari in October 2020 79 The issue before the Court was her qualified immunity defense 80 After a Massachusetts public library denied Liberty Counsel s requests in 2013 and 2014 to use a meeting room for prayer singing hymns and presenting Christian ideas the group sued The library then changed its policy to allowed religious and political viewpoints 81 In 2021 a federal appeals court ruled in favor of Liberty Counsel s client Jackson County Indiana by upholding a Christmas display including a Nativity scene in front of a county building After the Freedom From Religion Foundation demanded that Jackson County remove the Nativity scene the ACLU filed suit on behalf of a taxpayer The ACLU won in the lower court but was reversed on appeal 82 In May 2021 California Governor Gavin Newsom agreed to pay 1 350 000 to Liberty Counsel for attorneys fees and costs in a case brought on behalf of Harvest Rock Church and Harvest Rock International Ministries The settlement includes a statewide injunction against California s COVID 19 restrictions on places of worship 83 84 In late 2021 Liberty Counsel filed suit in Florida on behalf of members of the U S military who had religious objections to taking COVID 19 vaccinations The lawsuit claims that military rules permitted medical exemptions but not religious exemptions violates the First Amendment and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act 85 On May 2 2022 the U S Supreme Court issued a unanimous 9 0 decision in favor of Liberty Counsel s client that had been prevented from flying a Christian flag in Boston 86 The Court held that the city violated the constitution by approving 284 applications to use its flagpole in the city plaza but refusing to allow a Christian group to fly its flag Although Boston contended that the flags were government speech and not private speech protected by the First Amendment the Supreme Court disagreed 87 List of U S Supreme Court cases Madsen v Women s Health Center Inc 512 U S 753 1994 McCreary County v American Civil Liberties Union 545 U S 844 2005 Mountain Right to Life v Becerra 138 S Ct 2702 2018 Shurtleff v City of Boston 142 S Ct 1583 2022 Founder editLiberty Counsel s founder Mathew Staver was dean of Liberty University School of Law for eight and a half years He worked to start the school with Jerry Falwell Sr 88 89 Related organizations editLiberty Counsel currently or previously had interlocking boards with other organizations 3 Luke 1827 Foundation Inc 3 Liberty Counsel Action FL 3 Liberty Counsel Action VA 3 Freedom Federation Inc 3 Liberty Action PAC Inc 3 Liberty Mission Trust 3 Liberty Action Mission Trust 3 Freedom Mission Trust 3 Salt and Light Council 3 See also editAlliance Defending Freedom American Center for Law amp Justice American Civil Liberties Union Becket Fund for Religious Liberty First Liberty Institute Pacific Justice Institute Thomas More Law Center Thomas More SocietyPublications editJudicial Tyranny The Faith amp Freedom Series ISBN 0 9662079 1 2 Eternal Vigilance Knowing and Protecting Your Religious Freedom ISBN 0 8054 4000 3 Faith and Freedom A Complete Handbook for Defending Your Religious Rights ISBN 0891078355 Religious Expression in the Public Schools ISBN 0966207955 Same Sex Marriage Putting Every Household at Risk ISBN 0 8054 3196 9 Take Back America ISBN 0966207971Notes edit In addition 2 leased employees and 36 employees of another nonprofit organization provided services to Liberty Counsel 3 References edit a b c Liberty Counsel Inc Detail by Entity Name Division of Corporations Florida Department of State Accessed on July 6 2016 a b Liberty Counsel Inc Exempt Organizations Select Check Internal Revenue Service Accessed on July 6 2016 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax Liberty Counsel Inc Guidestar June 30 2015 About Liberty Counsel Liberty Counsel Accessed July 6 2016 Hetzner Amy March 23 2001 Group Sues Schools Over Religious Cards Chicago Tribune Archived from the original on September 1 2017 Retrieved 2016 08 05 Walters Joanna Thielman Sam 2016 02 03 Liberty Counsel the law firm whose mission is to defend God s authority The Guardian ISSN 0261 3077 Retrieved 2020 05 07 Andrea Diaz 7 December 2018 Elementary school principal placed on leave after banning all things Christmas from classrooms CNN Retrieved 2020 08 03 Niebuhr Gustav July 8 1995 Conservatives New Frontier Religious Liberty Law Firms The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved July 17 2020 Hacker Hans J 2005 The culture of conservative Christian litigation Rowman amp Littlefield Publishers pp 39 41 ISBN 0742534456 Kjupe Paul A Olson Laura R 2014 Encyclopedia of American Religion and Politics New York Infobase p 121 ISBN 978 1438130200 Banks Adelle M February 23 1990 In Defense of Religious Freedom Lawyer Pastor Right to Worship Threatened The Orlando Sentinel Archived from the original on September 17 2020 Retrieved September 17 2020 Christine Walker April 8 1998 Religious Freedom Act Clears Committee Sun Sentinel Witt Terry February 26 2009 City approves two sex business ordinances Levy County Journal pp A1 A5 Archived from the original on August 19 2020 Retrieved August 19 2009 Fausset Richard November 4 2011 Mississippi attempts to define the start of personhood Los Angeles Times Retrieved 2020 07 20 Catholic Online Don t Ask Don t Tell Upheld by Supreme Court catholic org Archived from the original on 2011 06 06 Social Conservatives Mount Last Ditch Effort to Stop Hate Crimes Bill Fox News 2015 03 26 Retrieved 2022 05 05 Evangelical group wants gays removed from anti lynching bill NBC News 9 January 2019 Retrieved 2019 01 13 Lockhart P R 2019 01 11 An evangelical group is trying to strip LGBTQ protections from an anti lynching bill Vox Retrieved 2020 07 21 Liberty Counsel website Advancing Family Values Archived from the original on 2010 08 19 Retrieved 2019 01 13 First case ever to declare a Vermont civil union is not equivalent to marriage and a state and federal Defense of Marriage Act permits a state to ban same sex unions Active Anti LGBT Groups Southern Poverty Law Center Active Hate Groups in the United States in 2014 Southern Poverty Law Center Boy Scouts Organization Demise Podcast Liberty Counsel Aug 11 2015 https www lc org faith and freedom full article boy scouts organization demise permanent dead link Liberty Counsel challenges SPLC hate group label onenewsnow com Retrieved 2015 10 26 Kim Davis Attorneys Attack Associated Press For Identifying Them As A Hate Group Media Matters for America 21 October 2015 Retrieved 2015 10 27 Southern Poverty Law Center brands some peaceful groups as hate groups Fox News 2017 07 14 Retrieved 2020 05 05 Maitland based Liberty Counsel loses lawsuit over hate group label Orlando Sentinel Associated Press 24 January 2018 Retrieved 17 March 2018 Liberty Counsel Inc v Guidestar USA Inc No 18 1157 4th Cir 2018 pur curiam unpub Update Regarding SPLC Flags on GuideStar Nonprofit Profiles GuideStar 23 June 2017 Retrieved 17 March 2018 Jenkins Jack April 23 2020 Conservative group calls for ReOpen Church Sunday Religion News Service Retrieved September 17 2020 Lecture has Ethical Dose on Medicine Orlando Sentinel February 17 1990 Retrieved 2020 10 08 Jacksonville parents object to Harry Potter s witchcraft StAugustine com staugustine com Archived from the original on 2016 03 04 Retrieved 2015 10 26 Jacksonville Library Drops Harry Potter Certificates American Library Assoc Archived from the original on October 13 2008 Retrieved October 22 2008 Fowler Sarah September 14 2015 The legal team behind Kentucky s defiant clerk BBC Retrieved January 12 2019 Ave Melanie August 27 2005 More teens today just saying no to sex Tampa Bay Times Retrieved 2020 07 21 Day Of Purity Liberty Counsel Liberty Counsel Day of Purity Retrieved February 5 2021 Jacobson Susan February 11 2013 Day of Purity provides alternative to Valentine s Day Orlando Sentinel Retrieved February 5 2021 Have a Holly Jolly Holiday The Washington Post Dec 20 2005 Lewin Adrienne December 9 2005 Critics Aren t Keeping Quiet Over Silent Night Lyrics Change ABC News Retrieved February 5 2021 Haven t heard last on Silent Night Wis school board is seeking redress from Christian legal group Richmond Times Dispatch January 14 2006 Peppard Jim 17 February 2006 City of Deltona Agrees to Hang Disputed Religious Paintings 10 Tampa Bay Retrieved 20 July 2020 Sarmah Satta January 5 2009 Faith in the Law Orlando Sentinel Archived from the original on July 20 2020 Retrieved July 20 2020 Wisconsin School Cancels Book Reading About Transgender Teen After Lawsuit Threat Time Retrieved 2020 05 29 Finn Amanda December 3 2015 In response to controversy hundreds pack Mount Horeb library for reading of transgender book Wisconsin State Journal Retrieved May 29 2020 Erickson Doug January 14 2016 Inspired by Mount Horeb I Am Jazz book is read across the country Thursday Wisconsin State Journal Retrieved May 29 2020 Reistad Meghan December 7 2017 MMSD supports transgender and nonbinary youth with I Am Jazz book reading Retrieved May 29 2020 Save the Date for Jazz amp Friends 2020 Human Rights Campaign August 29 2019 Retrieved May 29 2020 Parke Caleb March 30 2020 Florida pastor s legal team responds to entirely inappropriate arrest Fox News Retrieved February 5 2021 Martin Mark May 15 2020 Charges Dropped Against FL Pastor Rodney Howard Browne Arrested for Holding Church During Stay at Home Orders CBN News Retrieved February 5 2021 Holmes Juwan J January 8 2021 Anti LGBTQ group still praying that God will give Donald Trump a miraculous victory LGBTQ Nation Staver Mat The Future Hope of the Republic Liberty Counsel Retrieved 28 January 2021 Staver Mathew January 7 2021 The Future Hope of the Republic Liberty Counsel Liberty Counsel Retrieved 2021 02 05 LSU Dental School backtracks won t require COVID vaccines amid religious liberty concerns 25 March 2021 Richards Tori August 7 2021 Loyola University students win battle over COVID 19 vaccine Yahoo News Retrieved August 17 2021 Banks Adelle April 6 1993 Airport Sued Over Strict Rules On Religious Tracts The Orlando Sentinel Archived from the original on July 20 2020 Retrieved July 20 2020 Leusner Jim April 21 1993 Judge s Ruling Puts Halt to Religious Handouts Orlando Sentinel Banks Adelle May 7 1993 Airport Eases Soliciting Rules The Orlando Sentinel Archived from the original on July 20 2020 Retrieved July 20 2020 Crawford Craig July 1 1994 Court Keeps Protesters at Distance The Orlando Sentinel Archived from the original on July 20 2020 Retrieved July 21 2020 1994 article PDF Madsen v Women s Health Center Cornell University Madsen v Women s Health Center Inc Oral Argument U S Supreme Court Media Staff Kevin P Connolly Rene Stutzman and Robert Perez of The Sentinel 22 November 2000 GOP NERVOUSLY KEEPING TABS ON SEMINOLE SUIT OrlandoSentinel com Archived from the original on August 3 2020 Retrieved 2020 08 03 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link Bloodsworth Doris 6 December 2000 SPONTANEOUS RALLIES ARE CAREFULLY STAGED OrlandoSentinel com Archived from the original on 2020 08 03 Retrieved 2020 08 03 Dale Carpenter Flagrant Conduct The Story of Lawrence v Texas NY W W Norton 2012 204 5 Court takes on Commandments case 2004 10 12 Retrieved 2020 07 20 Ten Commandments stand at Dixie courthouse after lawsuit is dismissed Gainesville com Retrieved 2015 10 26 Group Sinclair Broadcast 2014 07 02 Liberty Reacts to Hobby Lobby Ruling WSET Retrieved 2020 07 20 Supreme Court revives Obamacare challenge Baptist Press 26 November 2012 Retrieved 2020 07 20 Snow Justin 6 August 2012 Anti Gay Group Challenges Marriage Equality In New York Metro Weekly Archived from the original on 17 August 2012 Retrieved 20 August 2012 Lovett Ken October 23 2012 Court of Appeals refuses to hear gay marriage appeal Metro Weekly Archived from the original on January 4 2013 Retrieved October 23 2012 Appeals Court Hears Challenges Liberty University v Lew PDF Justin Wm Moyer 13 August 2015 Federal judge orders Christian clerk to issue same sex marriage licenses Washington Post Retrieved 17 August 2015 WLWT5 July 13 2016 Retrieved July 29 2016 Wynn Mike Rowan gay marriage licenses upheld on appeal The Courier Journal Retrieved 2020 07 20 Liptak Adam August 31 2015 Supreme Court Says Kentucky Clerk Must Let Gay Couples Marry The New York Times Retrieved August 31 2015 Miller v Davis Judiciaries Government Scribd Retrieved 2020 07 20 Kentucky Clerk s Request For A Stay Is Denied By US Supreme Court NPR Couples denied marriage licenses can sue Kim Davis The Mercury News 2019 08 23 Retrieved 2020 05 15 Supreme court rejects appeal from clerk who refused to register gay marriage 2020 10 05 Retrieved 2020 10 08 Howe Amy October 5 2020 Justices issue new orders from last week s conference Thomas criticizes same sex marriage ruling SCOTUSblog Retrieved October 8 2020 Troknya Mark April 28 2016 Library Meeting Room Conflicts Public Library Association Retrieved 2020 10 08 Magdaleno Johnny February 4 2021 Nativity scene OK in front of Jackson County Courthouse federal appeals court rules www msn com Retrieved February 4 2021 Mayberry Carly May 20 2021 Pasadena s Harvest Church wins lawsuit against Gavin Newsom lifting worship restrictions Newsweek Retrieved May 24 2021 Blankley Bethany May 18 2021 California settles lawsuits over COVID worship restrictions Microsoft News Retrieved May 24 2021 Myers Meghann February 18 2022 Could the Supreme Court strike down the military s vaccination mandate Military Times Retrieved 2022 05 05 Fritze John Supreme Court Boston can t deny Christian flag if it flies other flags on City Hall flagpole USA TODAY Retrieved 2022 05 03 Boston s ban on Christian group s flag at city hall illegal US supreme court rules The Guardian 2022 05 02 Retrieved 2022 05 05 Anderson Lisa May 21 2007 Falwell saw law school as tool to alter society Chicago Tribune Retrieved 2022 05 05 President announces resignation of Liberty Law Dean Mat Staver Liberty University www liberty edu 20 October 2014 Retrieved 2020 05 15 External links editOfficial website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Liberty Counsel amp oldid 1218774612, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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