Archive for April, 2010
Posted by Thomas More Society (April 27, 2010 at 9:41 am)
For Immediate Release
Chicago, Ill.,—In a major ruling—which ultimately could prove decisive for the defense—St. Joseph County, Ind., Superior Court Chief Judge Michael P. Scopelitis lifted a stay order that barred lead defense attorney Tom Dixon from pursuing discovery from Notre Dame officials. Dixon represents the 88 pro-lifers who peacefully assembled against the Catholic university’s decision to honor the vehemently pro-abortion President Barack Obama. By allowing discovery, Judge Scopelitis authorizes Dixon to pursue testimony under oath from said officials who were key decision makers in the arrest of the ND88. It will also allow him to subpoena documents that may shed light on the college’s apparent inconsistency regarding the arrest and prosecution of other groups and individuals participating in similar on-campus events.
“The lifting of this stay on discovery is very significant,” said Tom Brejcha, president and chief counsel of the Thomas More Society. “A Notre Dame alumni group, Sycamore Trust, recently reported that homosexual rights and anti-ROTC protesters received, at worst, mere slaps on the wrist for leading unauthorized protests on campus. We believe that through discovery we may well uncover evidence that the Notre Dame police engaged in ‘viewpoint discrimination:’ that the university singled out the ND88 for especially harsh treatment.” [Continue reading ...]
Posted by Thomas More Society (April 26, 2010 at 9:00 am)
The lawsuit against Planned Parenthood for libeling Eric Scheidler and the Pro-Life Action League, which was turned against them by means of the Illinois Citizen Participation Act, has been appealed to the Illinois Supreme Court, the highest court in the State.
You can read the whole saga of this important case here, and you can see the Petition for Leave to Appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court linked below.
Case Documents
Posted by Thomas More Society (April 26, 2010 at 8:00 am)
Judge Scopelitis, the judge in the trial of the ND 88, has lifted the stay of discovery in the case. The ND 88 are the pro-life activists arrested for walking on the property of the University of Notre Dame in protest of the school’s honoring of President Barack Obama in May of 2009.
This leaves lead attorney Tom Dixon free to pursue depositions and find out more about the events that lead to the arrest of the ND88. Read the Notice of Deposition to see what Tom is seeking to find out, including:
- Who gave authority to the Notre Dame Police Department to arrest the ND88
- Who decided that the listed Defendants were not allowed on campus during the month of May, 2009, and when those decisions were made
- Notre Dame’s policies and practices regarding demonstrations on campus
- All communications between Notre Dame and any outside policing entities regarding the treatment and arrest of these Defendants and which communications occurred prior to the arrests
And much more . . .
Case Documents
Posted by Thomas More Society (April 15, 2010 at 11:35 am)
Project Love, the charitable arm of Illinois Citizens for Life, will host a benefit breakfast Sunday, April 25th at 11 a.m. at the Naperville Country Club, 25W570 Chicago Avenue, Naperville (map) to further its work in support of young mothers.
Proceeds from this breakfast will allow us to continue to help these moms who greatly need our care and support.
This year the Caritas Award, given to individuals for outstanding service in defense of life, will be presented to Thomas Brejcha, President and Chief Counsel for the Thomas More Society. Please come and give him your support and gratitude. [Continue reading ...]
Posted by Thomas Brejcha (April 15, 2010 at 10:11 am)
All the way back in January of 2009, TMS attorney Paul Linton crafted an amicus curiae, or “friend of the court” brief on behalf of the Family Research Council. You can read the whole brief here [PDF].
The case in which the brief was filed was in the federal lawsuit billed by our opposition as an “historic” event, attacking California’s Proposition 8, which constitutionalized traditional marriage in that state and thereby rebuffed—by popular vote—the prior decision of activist Justices on the California Supreme Court which had struck down traditional marriage law as violative of the fundamental constitutional rights of men and women to enter into same-sex “marriages.” [Continue reading ...]
Posted by Thomas More Society (April 5, 2010 at 12:02 pm)
Judge Scopelitis’ ruling confirms that evidence of defense is fact-based; does not speak to merits of ND88’s legal defense
Chicago, Ill.—The Thomas More Society announced today that their motion to dismiss filed in St. Joseph County Superior Court has been denied by Judge Scopelitis. In light of the recent death of Linda Schmidt from terminal cancer and the mounting serious health complications and personal challenges experienced by several members of the ND88, the Thomas More Society continues to explore every legal opportunity to bring relief to these peaceful pro-lifers. This includes petitioning the Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C, president of Notre Dame, to request that the charges be dropped.
“We understand Judge Scopelitis’ ruling to have been a strict application of a procedural rule, and we respect that decision. However, he did not rule on the merits of our legal defenses or our constitutional challenges to the validity of the charges. [Continue reading ...]
Posted by Thomas More Society (April 1, 2010 at 5:29 pm)
TMS attorney Paul Linton has put together a fascinating paper analyzing the lawsuits challenging the President’s healthcare reform bill that recently passed through congress. Check it out at the link below:
Analysis of the Lawsuits Challenging the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act”—by Paul Linton
