IL Pastor Sues Sheriff and State’s Attorney to Ensure Religious Liberty During Pandemic

For Immediate Release Contact: David E. Smith 773-858-6602 Email: s.david@illinoisfamily.org Illinois Pastor Sues Sheriff and State’s Attorney to Ensure Religious Liberty Cites IL Governor Executive Order as Constitutionally Unenforceable Morris, IL, May 30, 2020 – Headlines claiming victory over IL Gov. Pritzker’s limiting church services may be premature. With the new “guidance” issued May 28 […]

Wisconsin Supreme Court Illegally Suspends Jury Trials

On March 22, 2020, the Wisconsin Supreme Court suspended jury trials throughout the state in response to the corona virus pandemic.  Justice Rebecca Bradley, joined by Justice Daniel Kelly filed a vigorous dissent explaining how the court overstepped its authority in issuing the order and that emergencies do not grant government any greater power than […]

Constitution and Corona Virus

“Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.” Benjamin Franklin “The Constitution is not a suicide pact.”  Supreme Court Justice Robert Jackson “If the government will not protect constitutional rights designed to preserve our freedom, it is up to the people to reclaim them.”  Wisconsin […]

IT IS THE SOLDIER

Consideration of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights is often focused on abstract ideals, principles and philosophy.  Certainly these are part of the mix that guide our daily decisions and interactions with our fellow citizens. The freedoms and liberties we enjoy in the United States will forever be under attack […]

Two Lawless Court Injunctions Against President Trump’s Executive Order on Immigration

On March 15, 2017, two federal judges ordered the executive branch of our government to not enforce an order issued by President Trump. The orders by these judges were without legal basis, and these theoretical guardians of the law acted with utter disregard for the law. The Background  One week after taking office, on January […]

The Government May Be “Shut Down” But The Constitution Is Hard At Work

Despite a century long[1] effort to eviscerate and ignore the Constitution, the government “shut down” demonstrates the document’s stubborn staying power.  As the news media works to “analyze” who will get the blame, no one mentions that the goal of the Constitution was to limit government by dividing power.   Though those in office will not […]

US Constitution’s First Amendment: Right to Petition for Redress of Grievances

The First Amendment of the Bill of Rights addresses five rights.  The limits on government interference with religion, speech and the press were the result of the uniquely American experience. The right to peaceable assembly was a needed protection to exercise the first three. The First Amendment’s fifth right will come as a surprise to […]

First Amendment to US Constitution: Right to Peaceable Assembly

The Constitution’s First Amendment contains limits on government interference with very well known unalienable rights: religion, speech and press. The Amendment specifically restricts government interference with an activity necessary to exercise the first three named rights: the need for people to gather to practice religion, to talk about issues and to distribute information. The right […]

The Criminal Penalty of Crucifixion

Every year in the time leading up to Easter reenactments of the suffering and execution of Jesus Christ take place around the world. While the story of Christ’s crucifixion is nearly universally known, knowledge about crucifixion as criminal punishment, its widespread use and the horrible nature of death is not.  The brutal[1] method of execution […]

New HHS Contraception Mandate Rules Create a Shell Game

On Friday, February 2, 2012, the Obama administration released new Department of Health and Human Services[1] (HHS) contraception mandate rules.  The government contends the new rules address the religious objections resulting in lawsuits from its existing rules.  On close inspection the changes are an Orwellian shell game. There are currently 44 lawsuits across the country opposing the mandate […]