Articles for First Liberty

Revealed: Ginni Thomas secretly praised group working against Supreme Court reform
3 months, 2 weeks ago

Revealed: Ginni Thomas secretly praised group working against Supreme Court reform

Raw Story  

ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Shackelford runs the First Liberty Institute, a $25 million-a-year organization that describes itself as “the largest legal organization in the nation dedicated exclusively to defending religious liberty for all Americans.” Shackelford read Thomas’ email aloud on a July 31 private call with his group’s top donors. CAN I JUST TELL YOU, THANK YOU …

Justice Religious Supreme Court Ethics Court Trump Reform
Jewish Americans are fighting anti-Semitism from their neighbors, HOAs and local governments through a series of religious liberty lawsuits: It's an 'ugliness' that can quickly 'slide into violence' a
11 months, 4 weeks ago

Jewish Americans are fighting anti-Semitism from their neighbors, HOAs and local governments through a series of religious liberty lawsuits: It's an 'ugliness' that can quickly 'slide into violence' a

Daily Mail  

Jewish Americans are combatting anti-Semitism and open harassment by their neighbors, communities and housing authorities - and it is only getting worse. In another case in Beverly Hills, California, Rabbi Illulian was bullied by the city for hosting prayer gatherings in his own home After receiving a complaint from a private citizen in the neighborhood, Beverly Hills city officials started …

Law Enforcement Religious City Jewish Case Israel Hamas
An emboldened Ken Paxton returns to a battered attorney general’s office
1 year, 3 months ago

An emboldened Ken Paxton returns to a battered attorney general’s office

Raw Story  

Sept. 18, 2023 "An emboldened Ken Paxton returns to a battered attorney general’s office" was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues. In the early years of Paxton’s tenure, conservative lawyers left plum positions working for right-wing law firms …

Supreme Court Legal General Court Office Conservative Texas
Texas’ foot soldiers became federal judges under Trump — securing a conservative stronghold in America's courts
1 year, 4 months ago

Texas’ foot soldiers became federal judges under Trump — securing a conservative stronghold in America's courts

Raw Story  

For decades, an increasingly powerful movement of conservative lawyers, born from the Texas Office of the Attorney General, had been shouldering its way into the federal judiciary, filing lawsuit after lawsuit in an attempt to slowly reshape the nation’s jurisprudence to its liking. Brantley Starr, who worked under Cruz in the solicitor general’s office and “side by side” with Texas …

Supreme Court General Judges Court Trump Office Conservative
How the Texas backlash to Obama fueled the conservative drive to reinterpret the U.S. Constitution
1 year, 4 months ago

How the Texas backlash to Obama fueled the conservative drive to reinterpret the U.S. Constitution

Raw Story  

In November 2008, almost 70 million people turned out to vote for the nation’s first Black president and their hope for once-in-a-generation political change. True believers Ted Cruz, who would ride Texas’ Obama outrage to a U.S. Senate seat in 2012, laid the foundation for the solicitor general’s office as a legal champion of conservative causes. “I thought it would …

Climate Change Supreme Court Legal General Constitution Court States
Science under scrutiny! Professor in Texas institute fired for teaching 'human biology’ about chromosomes fights back
1 year, 5 months ago

Science under scrutiny! Professor in Texas institute fired for teaching 'human biology’ about chromosomes fights back

Hindustan Times  

In a shocking turn of events, a college professor is fighting back after being fired for teaching fundamental principles of human biology. Dr. Johnson Varkey, a former adjunct professor at St. Philip's College in San Antonio, Texas, was terminated by university leaders who allegedly deemed his teachings too "religious." However, a conservative legal firm, First Liberty Institute, has come to …

Teaching Texas College Professor First Liberty Institute Varkey Human Biology
Pistol-packing Black pastors fight to preach while armed — with help of Republican-connected law firms
1 year, 10 months ago

Pistol-packing Black pastors fight to preach while armed — with help of Republican-connected law firms

Raw Story  

ALBANY, N.Y. — It was Easter 2021 here in this church founded by Black New Yorkers, and jewel-toned colors spilt through stained glass windows onto a sanctuary adorned with blue hydrangea, forsythia and roses. Hardaway has befriended New York State Jewish Gun Club founder Tzvi Waldman, a leader in Rockland County’s Hasidic community, after meeting in a Facebook discussion group …

Law Gun Violence Violence Church Black Texas Worship
New vaccine may be option for troops with religious concerns
2 years, 6 months ago

New vaccine may be option for troops with religious concerns

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — A COVID-19 vaccine that could soon win federal authorization may offer a boost for the U.S. military: an opportunity to get shots into some of the thousands of service members who have refused other coronavirus vaccines for religious reasons. The Novavax vaccine may be an acceptable option for some of the 27,000 service members who have sought religious …

Military Religious Service Vaccines Fda Vaccine Berry
New COVID-19 vaccine may be option for troops with religious concerns
2 years, 6 months ago

New COVID-19 vaccine may be option for troops with religious concerns

LA Times  

A vial of the the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine is readied for use. A COVID-19 vaccine that could soon win federal authorization may offer a boost for the U.S. military: an opportunity to get shots into some of the thousands of service members who have refused other COVID-19 vaccines for religious reasons. One group involved in lawsuits targeting the military’s vaccine …

Military Religious Service Vaccines Members Service Members Fda