Press Releases

Kennewick, WA—A Benton County District Judge has dismissed, for the second time, a criminal charge against a public evangelist who regularly preaches outside of a Planned Parenthood clinic. The judge held that the City of Kennewick’s noise ordinance unconstitutionally restrains … Read More

Salem, OR—The Pacific Justice Institute (PJI) hopes to educate Clackamas County on religious freedom via a lawsuit filed to enforce a church’s protected right to let a small Christian school operate on its real property. On December 31, PJI filed … Read More

Spokane, WA—A high-profile prosecution of a pastor over Drag Queen Story Hour has taken another twist. In early December, the Honorable Judge Staab dismissed all criminal charges against Pastor Afshin Yaghtin. But two days before Christmas, the pastor and his attorneys with Pacific Justice Institute (PJI) received an unwanted gift: prosecutors asked … Read More

Spokane, WA—Pacific Justice Institute (PJI) just received the order from the Spokane Municipal Court judge dismissing criminal charges against Pastor Afshin Yaghtin. As previously reported, Pastor Yaghtin went to a public library in Spokane the weekend of Father’s Day to … Read More

Sacramento, CA—A school in Northern California has reversed course after initially declaring “Joy to the World” unacceptable for a student piano performance. The Benzel family reached out to Pacific Justice Institute (PJI) after their 13-year-old daughter Brooklyn’s musical choice was … Read More

Redding, CA—A Christian boarding school in Northern California won a reprieve in court Monday against the State of California’s ideologically-driven efforts to shut it down. The dispute centers on the State’s unilaterally re-labeling of the school as a “community care … Read More

Portland, OR—The Pacific Justice Institute (PJI) filed a lawsuit against the City of Portland for infringing on a Christian evangelist’s religious rights. While standing in Portland’s Waterfront Park, Mark Mayberry held a sign defending the unborn, passed out related tracts, … Read More

    Albany, NY—Pacific Justice Institute (PJI) is battling proposed regulations by the New York Department of Education that would have a devastating effect on religious education in the state. PJI represents Parents Union for Religious Integrity of Torah Education … Read More

Saipan, CNMI—Pacific Justice Institute (PJI) is representing a Bible school in the South Pacific against bizarre claims by a practitioner of witchcraft. Zaji Zajradhara applied for a job in the business office of Eucon International University, a Christian Bible school located … Read More

Spokane, WA—Pacific Justice Institute (PJI) is contesting criminal charges against a pastor who was arrested outside a public library. The library was hosting a drag queen event. As PJI first reported in June, Pastor Afshin Yaghtin went to a public … Read More