Posts Tagged ‘Texas’
Federal judge rebuffs teen’s religious claim in ID-tracking case
Court agrees Texas district can transfer Andrea Hernandez to another school, saying electronic-tracking badge requirement ‘has an incidental effect, if any, on [her] religious beliefs.’
Texas judge OKs ban on Planned Parenthood funding
Gary Harger says state may exclude otherwise qualified doctors and clinics from receiving state funding if they advocate for abortion rights.
Texas school board bans Confederate battle flag
Trustees amend student code of conduct to bar the flag, which formerly was displayed with the Hays High School Rebel mascot; ‘Dixie’ remains as school fight song.
Texas high schooler challenges use of ‘locator’ chips in student IDs
Andrea Hernandez and her family view the microchip embedded in her school’s new ID cards as a ‘mark of the beast’ and sacrilege to their Christian faith.
National Archives told to release some Watergate records
Texas professor wrote to federal judge in 2009 asking for documents related to U.S. v. Liddy.
Texas lawyer fights to keep domain name
State says texasworkerscomplaw.com looks too much like a state-provided or state-endorsed site; attorney goes to court asserting First Amendment right to retain it.
Ex-church pianist covered by ministerial exception
5th Circuit follows U.S. Supreme Court’s Hosanna-Tabor ruling, finds fired music director cannot pursue employment-discrimination claims.
Texas prosecutor doesn’t have to release shooting video
State attorney general says all records and documents pertaining to juveniles are confidential, even in cases in which the juvenile died.
Cheerleaders can display Bible banners for now
Texas judge grants injunction, saying school district policy barring pre-game signs appears to violate students’ rights.
5th Circuit upholds Texas open-meetings law
Three-judge panel rejects city officials’ claim that statute meant to ensure open government actually stifled their free speech.
When police kill, public has right to information
Brownsville, Texas, police may have acted properly in shooting 15-year-old, as a grand jury found; but releasing the video would help address public doubts.
Police went under cover to infiltrate Occupy Austin
Texas newspaper reports that at least three officers marched, camped and attended meetings with group.
The First Amendment Center is an educational organization and cannot provide legal advice.
Ken Paulson is president and chief executive officer of the First Amendment Center at Vanderbilt University and in Washington, D.C. Previously, Paulson served as the editor and senior vice president/news of USA Today.
Gene Policinski, senior vice president and executive director of the First Amendment Center and president and chief operating officer of the Diversity Institute, is a veteran journalist whose career has included work in newspapers, radio, television and online.
John Seigenthaler founded the First Amendment Center in 1991 with the mission of creating national discussion, dialogue and debate about First Amendment rights and values.
Dr. Charles C. Haynes is director of the Religious Freedom Education Project at the Newseum. He writes and speaks extensively on religious liberty and religion in American public life.
David L. Hudson Jr. is an expert in First Amendment issues who writes for firstamendmentcenter.org and for other publications. Hudson teaches law and was a scholar at the First Amendment Center.
Tiffany Villager is director/First Amendment studies at the First Amendment Center, which she joined in 1993. She also served as the center’s research manager and research coordinator, and developed the center’s library.
Inside the First Amendment • Religion Commentary | Charles C. Haynes
In East Texas, does cheering for God erase church-state line?
If cheerleaders in Kountze, Texas, prevail in defending their practice of holding up Bible-verse banners at football games, their victory could open the door for more student religious expression at school-sponsored events, delivered by members of various school groups.