Posted by Thomas More Society (August 3, 2010 at 4:36 pm)
For Immediate Release
Chicago—This afternoon, in a wake of national interest in the case, the Thomas More Society secured a dismissal of all charges against the first arrestee under the city’s “bubble zone” ordinance, which prevents certain types of picketing activity outside local abortion clinics. Joseph Holland, a Northwestern University graduate student, was arrested outside Planned Parenthood’s Near North Side facility on July 3 after the facility’s staff called the police and claimed he violated the ordinance by praying on the public sidewalk.
“We are pleased that the City of Chicago has dismissed these false and baseless charges against Joe Holland,” said Peter Breen, Thomas More Society executive director and legal counsel. “The First Amendment protects prayer on a public sidewalk in Chicago the same as in any other city in the country. We hope that the city will cease the suppression of pro-life speech under the ‘bubble zone’ ordinance and dismiss the lone remaining case, brought against David Avignone, who was arrested a few days after Joe.” [Continue reading ...]
Posted by Thomas More Society (August 2, 2010 at 3:35 pm)
A new website from the Thomas More Society, Students for Life of America and Students for Life of Illinois, ArrestedForPraying.com is raising support and awareness of the arrest of Joe Holland for praying outside a Planned Parenthood facility. Joe’s arrest is the first under the Chicago “Bubble Zone” law that restricts sidewalk counseling outside abortion clinics in the city.
Visit ArrestedForPraying.com today and sign their petition urging Chicago mayor Richard Daley to drop all charges against Joe. Read the full story of Joe’s arrest here and read about the huge national media response to the story here.
Posted by Thomas More Society (August 2, 2010 at 11:06 am)
The story of graduate student Joe Holland, who was the first person arrested under the outrageous Chicago “Bubble Zone” ordinance, has caught the attention of the media. Today, the story made the front page on FoxNews.com! Today’s poll on the Fox News site also centers around Joe’s arrest. Be sure to stop by the site and cast your vote today.
In addition, Joe and TMS attorney Peter Breen will appear on Moody Radio this afternoon at 5:05 Eastern, 4:05 Central to discuss the arrest and the ordinance. Listen live at the Moody Radio Chicago website.
Then tomorrow morning at 5:20 a.m. Central, 6:20 a.m. Eastern, Joe and Peter will be on FOX & Friends, the Fox News morning show.
This is a fantastic opportunity for the public to see how ridiculous the Chicago “Bubble Zone” and its enforcement really are. Be sure to vote in the Fox News poll today, and don’t miss any of this great coverage today and tomorrow.
Posted by Thomas More Society (July 27, 2010 at 4:06 pm)
This morning, Thomas More Society attorney Peter Breen entered a “not guilty” plea to the charge of disorderly conduct on behalf of Joseph Holland, the first person arrested under the new Chicago “Bubble Zone” ordinance, which prevents certain types of picketing activity outside local abortion clinics. Holland, a Northwesten University graduate student, was praying the rosary on a public sidewalk outside the Planned Parenthood Near North abortion facility on July 3 when staff called the police, claiming that he had violated the new ordinance.
The “Bubble Zone” ordinance prohibits approaching within eight feet of a person, without consent, “for the purpose of passing a leaflet or handbill to, displaying a sign to, or engaging in oral protest, education, or counseling.” According to witnesses and available video, Holland was engaged solely in prayer activity and not in leafletting, picketing or “sidewalk counseling.” Video of Holland’s alleged disorderly conduct can be viewed here:
Posted by Thomas More Society (July 17, 2010 at 7:46 am)
Trespass Cases Against the “ND88″
“ND88″ Attorneys Allege “Viewpoint Discrimination” in Criminal Prosecutions
South Bend, Ind.—This week, another pretrial hearing was held in St. Joseph County Criminal Court involving the criminal trespass charges that the University of Notre Dame and the county prosecutor continue to press against the “ND88.” In a key ruling, Chief Judge Michael Scopelitis confirmed that Thomas More Society attorneys may take a deposition of a Notre Dame official, the former Director of Residential Life at the University.
The ND88, a group of pro-life demonstrators including Alan Keyes, Norma McCorvey and Fr. Norman Weslin, were arrested on Notre Dame’s campus in May 2009, while praying the rosary, singing religious hymns and bearing peaceful, prayerful witness to the sanctity of life as part of a demonstration against Notre Dame’s honoring of President Barack Obama during its Commencement exercises. [Continue reading ...]
Posted by Thomas More Society (May 17, 2010 at 3:40 pm)
Christ the King parish in Omaha, Nebraska is hosting an educational fundraising dinner for the Thomas More Society featuring TMS President and Chief Counsel Tom Brejcha. Click the picture above for a printable PDF to use to publicize the event.
Tickets are $40 each ($30 tax-deductible). Social hour will begin at 6 p.m. with dinner starting at 6:30 p.m. Use the “Donate” button below to purchase tickets or make checks payable to The Thomas More Society and mail to 29 S. LaSalle, Ste, 440 Chicago, IL 60603 Attn: Accounting. If using the “Donate” button, please enter the number of tickets in the information field. Thank you, and we hope to see you there.
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 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
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 (March 31, 2010 at 9:25 am)
For Immediate Release:
Contact: Karl Fritz, 773-255-9656 fholywater@aol.com
Chicago—On Sunday, April 4 at 7:00 a.m. CST, an interdenominational group of Christians will celebrate Easter Sunday and the resurrection of Jesus Christ in Daley Plaza in downtown Chicago. On Thursday, April 1 at 7:30 p.m. CST, a 19-foot tall wooden cross will be raised in the plaza, and the cross will be draped in purple linen which will be replaced with white linen on Easter Sunday. This is the fourth year of the Sunrise Service in Daley Plaza, an exercise of the First Amendment rights to free exercise of religious faith and free speech by citizens in the public square. [Continue reading ...]
Chicago—This afternoon, in a wake of national interest in the case, the Thomas More Society secured a dismissal of all charges against the first arrestee under the city’s “bubble zone” ordinance, which prevents certain types of picketing activity outside local abortion clinics. Joseph Holland, a Northwestern University graduate student, was arrested outside Planned Parenthood’s Near North Side facility on July 3 after the facility’s staff called the police and claimed he violated the ordinance by praying on the public sidewalk.
A new website from the Thomas More Society, 
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.
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 