Current Legal Battles

Click the links below to view our press releases.

“In God We Trust” and Pledge of Allegiance Found Constitutional by Ninth Circuit

City: 
San Francisco, CA
Date: 
03/11/2010

Today the Ninth Circuit issued two opinions regarding the national motto and the pledge of allegiance. The Court found that neither the motto nor the pledge violate the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause. Dr. Michael Newdow filed the two cases which have garnered national attention.

High School Welcomes Gay Speakers, but Rejects HIV-Positive Christian

City: 
Castro Valley, CA
Date: 
03/09/2010

A Bay Area high school that attracted controversy last year for its “Days of Diversity” program is again welcoming pro-gay speakers this week. But the school has rejected a request by a student Christian club to host an HIV-positive speaker whose experience with homosexuality proved to be life-threatening.

High School Broke the Law With Sex Survey for Kids, Parents Say

City: 
Ventura
Date: 
02/23/2010

A sex survey was distributed to students by a high school newspaper at Ventura High School, located in southern California.

PJI Announces Second Annual Baccalaureate Project

City: 
Sacramento, CA
Date: 
02/17/2010

Pacific Justice Institute is announcing its second annual effort to encourage student clubs and churches to host baccalaureate services for high school seniors.

U.S. Supreme Court to Decide Whether Christian Student Clubs Can Prefer Christian Leaders

City: 
San Diego, CA
Date: 
02/08/2010

Pacific Justice Institute has submitted a friend-of-the-court brief to the United States Supreme Court in a closely-watched free speech and association case involving a law school chapter of the Christian Legal Society.

California Court of Appeal Mulls Mall's "Don't Talk to Strangers" Rule

City: 
Sacramento, CA
Date: 
01/27/2010

The California Court of Appeal is considering the constitutionality of a Sacramento-area shopping mall’s attempt to prevent adult patrons from talking to each other about hot-button topics such as religion and politics.

Gay Activists Seek to Boot 96-year-old Prop. 8 Supporter Off Theater Board

City: 
Oakland, CA
Date: 
01/19/2010

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) activists are seeking to oust an elderly Prop. 8 supporter from a theater board whose eleven members must be approved by the City Council. The Oakland City Council is expected to vote tonight on the issue.

Church Which Helps Homeless Faces Eviction

City: 
Victorville, CA
Date: 
01/14/2010

Days after signing a contract for a third year at the cinema that it had been leasing, Loveland Church received a letter from its landlord that the agreement was terminated. Dated December 30th, the letter informed the Church that January 7th would be its last day. The letter stated that the City of Victorville had determined that its zoning does not allow for a house of worship on movie theatre premises. Loveland has been renting two auditoriums for Sunday worship for two years from National Cinemark which has scores of these types of agreements with churches.

Gay Marriage on the Verge of Approval in the Capital: Congress to Determine if Voters will be Left Standing at the Altar

City: 
Washington, D.C.
Date: 
01/04/2010

The City Council for the District of Columbia passed a law allowing same sex marriage which was signed into law by Mayor Adrian Fenty on December 18th. Fenty chose All Souls Unitarian Church to sign the bill in which he stood and raised it in the air to a cheering crowd of onlookers. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LB6sC0LyaM

PJI Announces "2009 Hall of Shame"

City: 
Sacramento, CA
Date: 
12/21/2009

As we look back on 2009, the Pacific Justice Institute recalls ten of the worst attacks on faith, family and freedom we encountered this year.

1. Atheist Michael Newdow went to federal court seeking to stop prayers at President Obama’s inauguration, and the use of “So help me God” in the presidential oath. PJI successfully represented defendants Drs. Rick Warren and Joseph Lowery, Jr., in getting the suit dismissed. It is now on appeal.