Two critical TMS cases have been in the news this week. The dismissal of the disorderly conduct charges filed against Providence, Rhode Island Mayoral candidate Chris Young for speaking out against Rep. Patrick Kennedy’s pro-abortion stance was a tremendous victory for free speech and has caught the attention of both the local and national press.
Also, the case of an Indiana homeschooling group whose First Amendment rights are being violated by the state government which is attempting to micromanage the groups affairs with an iron fist has got the press talking in print and in new media outlets like the blogosphere.
Keep Up with the Latest News
Check out all the links below for more details on both cases and be sure to check back to the TMS blog often for the latest updates. For the most up to the minute news, sign up to receive e-mail alerts of breaking events on the upper left side of this website.
Posted by Thomas More Society (March 5, 2010 at 5:19 pm)
Thomas More Society Wins Dismissal of Charges Against Pro-Life Advocate Who Challenged Rep. Patrick Kennedy’s Pro-Abortion Views
For Immediate Release
Providence, R.I. March 5, 2010—Attorneys from the Chicago-based Thomas More Society,on the eve of the trial, won a victory in Providence municipal court this week when the city prosecutor decided to dismiss criminal charges against Christopher Young. Young, a Catholic pro-lifer who is also a Democratic mayoral candidate, was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct after confronting Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) about his abortion views at an advertised “open forum” on health care at Brown University last November.
Posted by Thomas More Society (March 5, 2010 at 12:47 pm)
The case against Providence, Rhode Island mayoral candidate Chris Young has been dismissed! Young was arrested for disorderly conduct after questioning Rep. Patrick Kennedy about abortion at a public forum on healthcare.
After a tenacious fight by TMS attorneys, the city prosecutor moved for dismissal. Check back to the TMS website for more details as they become available.
In the meantime, you can read more on the case here, here and see video of Young’s question for Kennedy and his arrest here. You can also see the court documents on the dismissal below.
Posted by Thomas More Society (March 3, 2010 at 11:28 pm)
TMS renews call for Notre Dame President Fr. Jenkins to prefer human rights to property rights and ask the prosecutor to drop all charges against the ND 88
Chicago, Ill.—Tom Brejcha, president and chief counsel of Chicago’s Thomas More Society—the national public interest law firm whose legal team is defending the Notre Dame 88—is sad to report the death of ND88 client Linda Schmidt who died after a courageous battle with terminal cancer.
“It is with a heavy heart that we report that Linda Schmidt died early last night. While she will be missed by her family and loved ones, as a woman of tremendous faith she will no doubt spend eternity with our Lord,” stated Brejcha. “But our grief at losing this dedicated pro-life heroine is greater given the grim truth that she lived her final days under this cloud of criminal charges instigated by Notre Dame, which remained pending even as she departed this life.”
Posted by Thomas More Society (March 2, 2010 at 11:29 pm)
Judicial Review and Stay of Proceedings Sought in Hamilton County Superior Court against Agency’s Claim of Power to Penalize a Group of Nine Families for their Decision about ‘Who Could Eat What’ at the Group’s Banquet.
Hamilton County, Ind., March 2—Late yesterday, Chicago’s Thomas More Society, a national public interest law firm, filed a 127-page lawsuit against the Indiana Civil Rights Commission (ICRC). The ICRC has adamantly insisted that it has the power to review and penalize a Catholic home schooling group of nine families who joined together for religious reasons to form the Fishers Adolescent Catholic Enrichment Society (FACES) by which the families sought to provide social occasions at which their children could interact in a religious context with other children who were being home schooled. . . Case documents after the break
Posted by Thomas More Society (February 19, 2010 at 11:42 am)
Emboldened by recent action in Chicago, Rockford, Illinois recently sought to enact a bubble zone ordinance to restrict pro-life counseling and prayer outside the abortion facility in the town. After TMS attorneys conatacted the city council, the measure was tabled for two months.
The media has caught wind of this important free-speech case. Below is a sampling of the media coverage on this story.
Posted by Thomas More Society (February 19, 2010 at 11:27 am)
Providence, RI Mayoral candidate Chris Young’s trial on charges of disorderly conduct for questioning Rep. Patrick Kennedy on abortion in the healthcare overhaul has been postponed until March 10. TMS attorneys representing Mr. Young are seeking for the charges to be dropped entirely and alleging that Mr. Young’s first amendment rights were violated.
Video of the incident can be seen here and case documents can be read here.
As we wait for the trial to proceed, the media has taken notice of this significant case. Local and national news outlets have covered the story. Follow the links below to find out more.
Thomas More Society Attorneys Seek Dismissal of Criminal Charges vs. Mayoral Candidate Whom Campus Police Arrested When He Questioned Rep. Patrick Kennedy’s Pro-Abortion Stance at an “Open Forum” on Health Care at Brown University
Providene, R.I. (February 16, 2010)—Attorneys from the Chicago-based Thomas More Society are appearing in Providence municipal court tomorrow for a hearing on their motion to dismiss disorderly conduct charges against Christopher Young. Young, a Democratic mayoral candidate, was arrested and dragged away to jail after questioning Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-Rhode Island, about his pro-abortion views at an “open forum” on health care at Brown University last November.
The Catholic News Agency has put together this short video showing the abuse of the defendants in the case TMS is handling in Rockford, Illinois. The video is part of a larger story that can be read here.
Posted by Thomas More Society (February 12, 2010 at 3:12 pm)
We recently told you about the case of Chris Young, Catholic Rhode Island resident and candidate for Mayor of Providence. Chris attended a public forum where he questioned Rep. Patrick Kennedy about abortion in the upcoming healthcare overhaul and was arrested for “disorderly conduct.” See the video of the incident here.
Attorneys working with TMS have filed a motion to dismiss the charges against Chris and are working tirelessly to see the matter brought to a close. For more, see the motion to dismiss and the evidence in the documents linked below.
We recently told you about the case of Chris Young, Catholic Rhode Island resident and candidate for Mayor of Providence. Chris attended a public forum where he questioned Rep. Patrick Kennedy about abortion in the upcoming healthcare overhaul and was arrested for “disorderly conduct.” See the video of the incident