Posts Tagged ‘ND 88’
Posted by Thomas More Society (January 12, 2010 at 11:49 am)
Judge Jenny Pitts Manier, the judge who was hearing the case against the “ND 88,” the 88 pro-lifers who were arrested while protesting President Obama’s scandalous appearance at the University of Notre Dame in May, 2009, recused herself and removed herself from the case due to a conflict of interest. You can read the whole story in the TMS press release on the story. Below you’ll find a list of media coverage of this breaking story. This post will be updated as more stories become available.
ND 88 Judge Recusal in the News
Posted by Thomas More Society (January 11, 2010 at 10:47 pm)
For Immediate Release
Contact: Tom Ciesielka, 312-422-1333, tc@tcpr.net
Pro-Life Defendants Had Argued That Judge ‘Reasonably’ Appeared To Be Biased
January 11, 2010 (Notre Dame, Ind.)—In the ongoing case involving 88 pro-life demonstrators arrested at the University of Notre Dame in the days leading up to (and in some cases during) President Barack Obama’s commencement speech and receipt of an honorary degree, the assigned trial judge has recused herself just days after defense attorneys filed an appeal from her earlier ruling, denying recusal.
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Posted by Thomas More Society (December 3, 2009 at 9:18 pm)
Pro-Life Defendants’ Argue that Free Speech Rights Violated as Obama Supporters were Given Special Treatment by Campus Police
December 3, 2009 (Notre Dame, Ind.)—Chicago-based Thomas More Society attorneys appeared in St. Joseph County Criminal Court today to argue for dismissal of trespass charges against pro-life advocates because campus police acted improperly. The charges were brought by local prosecutors based on complaints by University of Notre Dame security police during Obama protests last May at the University. In addition to the motion to dismiss, Thomas More Society attorney Tom Dixon argued that Judge Jenny Pitts Manier had an actual or perceived bias based on her prior rulings, her husband’s outspoken criticism of Catholic pro-life teachings as a philosophy professor at Notre Dame and other factors. Judge Manier, while denying the bias charges, ruled nonetheless that the prosecution should be halted to allow for an immediate appeal as to whether she should be disqualified from ruling on the merits of the 88 cases.
“We’re very pleased that Judge Manier has allowed this immediate appeal as it is critical that these vital issues be heard before a fair and impartial tribunal,” said Tom Brejcha, president and chief counsel of the Thomas More Society. [Continue reading ...]
Posted by Thomas More Society (December 3, 2009 at 10:46 am)
Thomas More Society President and Chief Counsel Thomas Brejcha will be in court on Thursday, December 3, to argue in favor of a motion to dismiss the charges against the ND 88.
These 88 protesters were arrested for trespassing on the campus of the University of Notre Dame during protests of President Obama’s scandalous commencement speech there last May. If convicted of these charges, the 88 could face up to one year in jail and a $5,000 fine.
TMS has repeatedly petitioned the University to drop the charges, respecting the protesters’ right to free speech and the school’s Catholic character, even drafting an open letter to University president Fr. John Jenkins. Fr. Jenkins has repeatedly insisted that it is not within his power to drop the charges. [Continue reading ...]
Posted by matt (October 21, 2009 at 5:19 pm)
Arguing that the constitutionally protected rights of freedom of speech and equal protection under the law were violated by the arrests and criminal charges, attorney Tom Dixon filed a motion to dismiss all charges against the individuals arrested when President Obama came to Notre Dame last May
Read the entire motion here (11 MB pdf file).
Posted by matt (September 30, 2009 at 6:22 pm)
Notre Dame Case Looks Mighty Suspicious
Vital Signs
Those pro-life activists who were arrested on the campus of Notre Dame University in peaceful protests of abortion enthusiast Barack Obama’s receiving an honorary doctorate from the supposedly Catholic school are going up against a judge who is married to Edward Manier. (Manier is a Notre Dame professor notorious for his pro-abortion views, political contributions and associations.)
Free the Notre Dame 88: Backlash Continues Over Award to Obama
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Posted by matt (September 29, 2009 at 6:16 pm)
Judge in Case of Arrested Notre Dame Pro-Lifers is Married to Pro-Abortion ND Professor
LifeSiteNews
The attorney representing the pro-lifers arrested while protesting Obama at Notre Dame today repeated his request that the judge in the case, who is married to a pro-abortion Notre Dame professor, be removed from the case.
Judge in Case of Arrested Notre Dame Pro-Lifers is Married to Pro-Abortion ND Professor
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Posted by matt (September 28, 2009 at 6:16 pm)
Notre Dame’s quest for respectability
From Burke to Kirk and Beyond…
I read here that the University is pressing charges against “eighty-eight peaceful pro-life activists who protested Obama’s visit earlier this year. Among the trespassers was 79-year-old priest Fr. Norman Weslin, handcuffed and dragged away while singing “Immaculate Mary.”
Carter called it correctly
Kansas City Star
Jimmy Carter was the first pro-choice president to receive an honorary degree from Notre Dame, 33 years ago. No outrage. Gerald Ford also received an honorary law degree from Notre Dame, 34 years ago. Not a peep.
Posted by matt (September 28, 2009 at 5:27 pm)
Attorney Tom Dixon today filed a second motion for recusal in the “ND 88″ case [PDF] in which he provides detailed support for his assertion in his previous recusal motion that there exists sufficient actual and perceived bias that Judge Jenny Pitts Manier, the judge assigned to the “ND 88″ case is required by Indiana state law to recuse herself in the matter.
Unlike the original motion, the new motion goes into great detail about the rabid pro-abortion, anti-episcopacy views of Edward Manier, Judge Manier’s husband, a Notre Dame professor and raises serious doubts about claims made by Judge Manier in her previous denial of Dixon’s motion to recuse.
Motion to Reconsider Motion for Change of Judge
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Posted by matt (September 25, 2009 at 6:15 pm)
LifeSiteNews Commentary: Notre Dame saga is far from over
LifeSiteNews
The Notre Dame saga is far from over as we see today. The Obama speech and award has ignited a long overdue call for Notre Dame and all Catholic colleges to return to their founding principles…Where to begin? By defending the shamefully persecuted 88 peaceful protesters.
Bishop of Memphis Meet African American Priest John Raphael, (Obama Racism Cont)
Opinionated Catholic
Because of his clearly unacceptable stand on abortion many who are leaders in the church are willing to pillory President Obama with direct confrontation rather than with clear moral teaching about abortion and public law.”
Pro-Life Harvard Prof Glendon, Rejected Notre Dame Honor, Gets National Award
LifeNews
Mary Ann Glendon, the pro-life Harvard law professor who rejected an award from the University of Notre Dame because it honored pro-abortion President Barack Obama, is set to receive her own award. The National Right to Life Committee will bestow its highest honor on Glendon at a dinner next month.
