DOCSLIB.ORG

IN the SUPREME COURT of RHODE ISLAND No. SU-2020

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
IN the SUPREME COURT of RHODE ISLAND No. SU-2020 Case Number: SU-2020-0066-A Filed in Supreme Court Submitted: 7/15/2021 3:29 PM Envelope: 3193930 Reviewer: Justin Coutu IN THE SUPREME COURT OF RHODE ISLAND No. SU-2020-0066-A MICHAEL BENSON, ET AL., PLAINTIFFS-APPELLANTS V. GINA M. RAIMONDO, ET AL., DEFENDANTS-APPELLEES On Appeal from a Judgment Entered in the Superior Court, Providence County No. PC-2019-6761 (DARIGAN, J.) BRIEF OF AMICUS CURIAE THE THOMAS MORE SOCIETY IN SUPPORT OF PLAINTIFFS-APPELLANTS Raymond A. Marcaccio, Esquire (#3569) OLIVERIO & MARCACCIO LLP 30 Romano Vineyard Way, Suite 109 North Kingstown, RI 02852 (401) 861-2900 (401) 861-2922 Fax [email protected] Case Number: SU-2020-0066-A Filed in Supreme Court Submitted: 7/15/2021 3:29 PM Envelope: 3193930 Reviewer: Justin Coutu TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF AUTHORITIES.................................................................................... ii INTEREST OF AMICUS CURIAE ..........................................................................1 I. STATEMENT OF FACTS AND PRIOR PROCEEDINGS...........................1 II. ERRORS CLAIMED ......................................................................................4 A. Plaintiff Voters Have Standing to Bring This Action...........................4 B. Baby Roe and Baby Mary Doe Have Standing...................................10 1. Baby Mary Doe and Baby Roe Have Been Injured in the Revocation of Their Legal Interest in the Pre-Roe Abortion Law and in the Fetal Homicide (Quick Child) Laws........................11 2. Baby Mary Doe’s and Baby Roe’s Status in the Abortion Context of Roe v. Wade Does Not Remove Their Status as Persons in this Non-Roe Case ..................................................15 C. The Court Should Find Standing Based on the Substantial Public Interests this Case Presents .................................................................16 III. CONCLUSION..............................................................................................18 CERTIFICATION OF WORD COUNT AND COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 18(B) ........................................................................................................................19 CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE ................................................................................19 i Case Number: SU-2020-0066-A Filed in Supreme Court Submitted: 7/15/2021 3:29 PM Envelope: 3193930 Reviewer: Justin Coutu TABLE OF AUTHORITIES United States Supreme Court Decisions Baker v. Carr, 369 U.S. 186 (1962).......................................................................6, 8 Boddie v. Connecticut, 401 U.S. 371 (1971) ...........................................................16 Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, -- S. Ct. --, 2021 WL 1951792 (May 17, 2021)......................................................................................................12 Doe v. Bolton, 410 U.S. 179 (1973).................................................................. 12, 13 Fed. Election Comm'n v. Akins, 524 U.S. 11 (1998) .............................................6, 7 Gill v. Whitford, 138 S.Ct. 1916 (2018)............................................................ 6, 8, 9 Lance v. Coffman, 549 U.S. 437 (2007) ................................................................7, 8 Pennsylvania v. Finley, 481 U.S. 551 (1987) ..........................................................16 Reynolds v. Sims, 377 U.S. 533 (1964)..................................................................6, 8 Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973).............................................................. 12, 14, 15 Shaw v. Reno, 509 U.S. 630 (1993) ...........................................................................7 Sinkfield v. Kelley, 531 U.S. 28 (2000)......................................................................7 Spokeo, Inc. v. Robins, 136 S.Ct. 1540 (2016) ..........................................................5 Wolff v. McDonnell, 418 U.S. 539 (1974) ...............................................................16 Other Federal Courts Bruggeman v. Blagojevich, 324 F.3d 906 (7th Cir. 2003).........................................9 Davis v. Guam, 785 F.3d 1311 (9th Cir. 2015) .........................................................6 Delew v. Wagner, 143 F.3d 1219 (9th Cir.1998).....................................................16 Doe v. Israel, 482 F.2d 156 (1st Cir. 1973)...................................................... 12, 13 ii Case Number: SU-2020-0066-A Filed in Supreme Court Submitted: 7/15/2021 3:29 PM Envelope: 3193930 Reviewer: Justin Coutu East Bay Sanctuary Covenant v. Trump, 950 F.3d 1242 (9th Cir. 2020)..................9 Harrison v. Kernan, 971 F.3d 1069 (9th Cir. 2020)..................................................6 State Court Decisions Rhode Island Supreme Court Burns v. Sundlun, 617 A.2d 114 (R.I. 1992) ................................................... passim Key v. Brown University, 163 A.3d 1162 (R.I. 2017) ...............................................5 N & M Properties, LLC v. Town of West Warwick, 964 A.2d 1141 (R.I. 2009)...5, 9 Sennott v. Hawksley, 103 R.I. 730, A.2d 286 (1968) ..............................................16 Rhode Island Superior Court Harrop v. R.I. Div. of Lotteries, 2019 R.I.Super LEXIS 130, *5-*6.........................9 Statutes R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-30-2...........................................................................................15 R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-3-1...........................................................................................11 R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-3-4.......................................................................................2, 10 R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-23-5................................................................................. passim R.I. Gen. Laws, § 23-4.13-1.......................................................................................1 iii Case Number: SU-2020-0066-A Filed in Supreme Court Submitted: 7/15/2021 3:29 PM Envelope: 3193930 Reviewer: Justin Coutu INTEREST OF AMICUS CURIAE Amicus Curiae, the Thomas More Society (“TMS”), is a national, non- profit, public interest law firm dedicated to defending life, from conception to natural death, the family, and First Amendment rights, including freedom of speech and religious liberty. TMS nationally seeks to safeguard and foster support for these causes by pro bono advocacy for their preservation and protection in state and federal trial and appellate courts. Consistent with its mission, the Thomas More Society submits this brief in support of Plaintiffs-Appellants. I. STATEMENT OF FACTS AND PRIOR PROCEEDINGS This appeal challenges the Rhode Island Reproductive Privacy Act, R.I. Gen. Laws, § 23-4.13-1 et seq. (“RPA”), passed by the Rhode Island General Assembly and signed by the Governor in 2019. The First Amended Complaint (Plaintiffs-Appellants’ App. (“APP.”) 069-120) asserts that the RPA unlawfully amended the Rhode Island Constitution by “grant[ing]”, “secur[ing]” and “funding” a “right relating to abortion”, a right that Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution disavowed absent amendment by a majority vote of the entire electorate as per Article I, Section 1 and Article XIV of the Constitution. No such vote was held. The First Amended Complaint also asserts that the Rhode Island General Assembly has no “residual” authority to create a right of abortion outside of a constitutional amendment inasmuch as Article VI, Section 10 repealed any 1 Case Number: SU-2020-0066-A Filed in Supreme Court Submitted: 7/15/2021 3:29 PM Envelope: 3193930 Reviewer: Justin Coutu plenary or residual legislative powers. (APP. 099 (¶¶109-114); 105 (¶140); 109 (¶164); 112-113 (¶184); 116 (¶¶205-206)). Plaintiffs, Michael Benson, Nichole Leigh Rowley, and Jane Doe (“Plaintiff voters”), are eligible Rhode Island voters who would have voted against a constitutional amendment recognizing the right of abortion had it been put to the vote of the electorate. (APP. 079; 082 - 084, 113 (¶¶185-187)). These Plaintiff voters seek a declaratory judgment that they were illegally deprived of their right to vote on the alleged constitutional amendment. (APP. 105 (¶139), 109 (¶163), 112 (¶183); 115-116 (¶¶197, 200, 203)). Plaintiff Baby Roe, a pre-viable 15-week old fetus, alleges, through her mother Plaintiff Rowley, that under Rhode Island General Laws §11-3-4, she had certain legal rights of a “person”, which were “immediately, irrevocably, and permanently” removed when the RPA was passed. She alleges that this action violated her rights of due process and equal protection under the Rhode Island Constitution and the Constitution of the United States. (APP. 0086-0088, esp. ¶¶40-41; 114, Count V). Plaintiff Baby Mary Doe, a post-viable 34-week old fetus, through her mother Plaintiff Jane Doe, makes the same allegations as Plaintiff Baby Roe, and in addition alleges that she is a “quick child” as defined in R.I. Gen. Laws §11-23- 5. Passage of the RPA removed her legal rights and protected status as a “quick 2 Case Number: SU-2020-0066-A Filed in Supreme Court Submitted: 7/15/2021 3:29 PM Envelope: 3193930 Reviewer: Justin Coutu child” violating her rights of due process and equal protection under the Rhode Island Constitution and the Constitution of the United States. (APP. 088-091, esp. ¶¶58-63; 114, Count V). Plaintiff Catholics For Life, Inc., under the fictitious name “Servants of Christ for Life” (“SOCL”), alleges that its purpose is to advocate for, represent, and support the legal rights of those unborn, specifically, Baby Roe
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Life, Liberty and Law Foundation
    NOS. 13-354, 13-356 In the Supreme Court of the United States KATHLEEN SEBELIUS, ET AL., Petitioners, v. HOBBY LOBBY STORES, INC., ET AL., Respondents. CONESTOGA WOOD SPECIALTIES CORP., ET AL., Petitioners, v. KATHLEEN SEBELIUS, ET AL., Respondents. On Writs of Certiorari to the United States Courts of Appeals for the Tenth and Third Circuits BRIEF OF LIBERTY, LIFE , AND LAW FOUNDATION, THOMAS MORE SOCIETY, AND CHRISTIAN FAMILY COALTION AS AMICI CURIAE IN SUPPORT OF HOBBY LOBBY AND CONESTOGA, ET AL. Thomas Brejcha Deborah J. Dewart Thomas More Society Counsel of Record President and Chief Counsel 620 E. Sabiston Drive 19 S. LaSalle, Ste. 603 Swansboro, NC 28584 Chicago, IL 60603 (910) 326-4554 (312) 782-1680 [email protected] [email protected] Counsel for Amici Curiae Liberty, Life, and Law Foundation, Thomas More Society, and Christian Family Coalition Becker Gallagher · Cincinnati, OH · Washington, D.C. · 800.890.5001 i TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF AUTHORITIES.................. iv INTEREST OF AMICI CURIAE ............... 1 INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT ............................ 2 ARGUMENT............................... 3 I. OPERATING A PRIVATE BUSINESS IN ACCORDANCE WITH CONSCIENCE IS NOT THE INVIDIOUS, IRRATIONAL, ARBITRARY DISCRIMINATION PROHIBITED BY THE CONSTITUTION. 3 A. Respect For Individual Conscience Is Deeply Rooted In American History..... 4 B. Courts Have Long Respected The Conscience Rights Of Both Patients And Health Care Professionals............. 6 C. Like Many Successful Free Exercise Cases, This Case Involves Conscientious Objectors—Not Civil Disobedience. ..... 7 II. AN EMPLOYER’S REFUSAL TO FINANCE OR FACILITATE CONTRACEPTION IS NOT THE INVIDIOUS, IRRATIONAL, ARBITRARY DISCRIMINATION PROHIBITED BY THE CONSTITUTION. 8 ii A.
    [Show full text]
  • Public Version
    Case 3:16-cv-00236-WHO Document 609 Filed 05/23/19 Page 1 of 29 Charles S. LiMandri (CA Bar No. 110841) Thomas Brejcha, pro hac vice 1 Paul M. Jonna (CA Bar No. 265389) Peter Breen, pro hac vice Jeffrey M. Trissell (CA Bar No. 292480) 2 B. Dean Wilson (CA Bar No. 305844) THOMAS MORE SOCIETY FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE DEFENSE FUND 309 W. Washington St., Ste. 1250 3 P.O. Box 9520 Chicago, IL 60606 Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067 Tel: (312) 782-1680 4 Tel: (858) 759-9948 [email protected] [email protected] 5 [email protected] Denise M. Harle (CA Bar No. 275561) 6 ALLIANCE DEFENDING FREEDOM Matthew F. Heffron, pro hac vice 1000 Hurricane Shoals Rd., NE THOMAS MORE SOCIETY 7 Suite D1100 10506 Burt Circle, Suite 110 Lawrenceville, GA 30043 8 Tel: (770) 339-0774 501 Scoular Building [email protected] Omaha, NE 68114 9 Tel: (312) 782-1680 Harmeet K. Dhillon (CA Bar No. 207873) [email protected] 10 Gregory R. Michael (CA Bar No. 306814) DHILLON LAW GROUP INC. 11 177 Post Street, Suite 700 Attorneys for Defendant David Daleiden San Francisco, CA 94108 12 415-433-1700 415-520-6593 (fax) 13 [email protected] 14 Attorneys for Defendant David Daleiden 15 16 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 17 18 PLANNED PARENTHOOD Case No. 3:16-CV-00236 (WHO) 19 FEDERATION OF AMERICA, INC., et al., 20 Hon. William H. Orrick III Plaintiff, 21 vs. Defendant David Daleiden’s 22 Motion for Summary Judgment 23 THE CENTER FOR MEDICAL PROGRESS, et al., Hearing Date: July 17, 2019, 2:00 p.m.
    [Show full text]
  • 162286 01 02 Brief
    RECEIVED by MSC 11/26/2020 2:44:13 AM STATE OF MICHIGAN IN THE SUPREME COURT _________________ ANGELIC JOHNSON, et al. Supreme Court Case No. _______ Petitioners, PETITIONERS’ BRIEF IN SUPPORT v OF PETITION FOR WRITS JOCELYN BENSON, et al., Respondents. IMMEDIATE RELIEF REQUESTED BEFORE DECEMBER 8, 2020 SPECIAL COUNSEL FOR THOMAS MORE SOCIETY— AMISTAD PROJECT Ian A. Northon, Esq. (P65082) Erin Elizabeth Mersino, Esq. (P70886) Gregory G. Timmer (P39396) GREAT LAKES JUSTICE CENTER* RHOADES MCKEE, PC* 5600 W. Mt. Hope Highway 55 Campau Avenue Lansing, Michigan 48917 Suite 300 (517) 322-3207 Grand Rapids, MI 49503 [email protected] Tel.: (616) 233-5125 Fax: (616) 233-5269 *for identification purposes only [email protected] COUNSEL FOR PETITIONERS [email protected] Robert J. Muise, Esq. (P62849) AMERICAN FREEDOM LAW CENTER* PO Box 131098 Ann Arbor, Michigan 48113 Tel: (734) 635-3756 Fax: (801) 760-3901 [email protected] THIS ORIGINAL PROCEEDING INVOLVES A RULING THAT A PROVISION OF THE CONSTITUTION, A STATUTE, RULE OR REGULATION, OR OTHER STATE GOVERNMENTAL ACTION IS INVALID RECEIVED by MSC 11/26/2020 2:44:13 AM TABLE OF CONTENTS INDEX OF AUTHORITIES.......................................................................................................... iv STATEMENT OF JURISDICTION............................................................................................ viii STATEMENT IDENTIFYING THE DECISION FROM WHICH THIS PETITION ARISES AND ITS DATE OF ENTRY ......................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • October 23, 2020
    October 23, 2020 Vice A new report from the financial analysts at New Street Research uses some How a Secretive back-of-the-envelope calculations to roughly estimate the number of people Phone Company that Verizon covers with its super-fast 5G network working in millimeter wave Helped the Crime (mmWave) spectrum: Around 1.8 million people. World Go Dark Given that there are around 328 million people in the US, that equates to Bloomberg around 0.5% of the population. Importantly, that figure dovetails almost exactly YouTube Is So with recent figures from Speedtest provider Ookla. In its third quarter report on Flooded With US mobile networks, the network-monitoring company reported that the Political Ads It Can’t average Verizon customer spends 0.6% of their time connected to 5G. Of Place Them All course, as with any discussion of 5G, the devil is in the details. Washington Post For example, Verizon launched its "5G Nationwide" service in conjunction TikTok will better with the introduction of the new 5G-capable iPhone this month, promising to explain video deliver a 5G icon to fully 200 million people. However, that service uses a takedowns in lead- technology called Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (DSS) to push 5G signals into up to election the lowband 850MHz spectrum that Verizon currently uses for 4G. As a result, Verizon's "5G Nationwide" service isn't any faster than its 4G service. Politico What global Verizon's 5G Nationwide service is decidedly different from its "ultra wideband" elections have 5G service working in its mmWave spectrum, which Verizon has branded as taught Silicon Valley UWB.
    [Show full text]
  • State of Michigan in the Court of Claims Dan Ryan, Paul
    STATE OF MICHIGAN IN THE COURT OF CLAIMS DAN RYAN, PAUL DRISCOLL, JOELLEN M. PISARCZYK, and MYRON ZOLKEWSKY, Case No: 20-000198-MZ Plaintiffs, Hon. Christopher M. Murray v. JOCELYN BENSON, in her official Capacity as SECRETARY OF STATE, Defendants. Mark F. (Thor) Hearne, II (P40231) Stephen S. Davis (pro hac pending) J. Matthew Belz (pro hac pending) TRUE NORTH LAW, LLC 112 S. Hanley Road, Suite 200 St. Louis, MO 63105 (314) 296-4000 [email protected] Counsel for Plaintiffs and Special Counsel for Thomas More Society Thomas Brejcha (pro hac pending) THOMAS MORE SOCIETY 309 W. Washington Street, Suite 1250 Chicago, IL 60606 (312) 782-1680 [email protected] Counsel for Thomas More Society Charles R. Spies (P83270 Robert L. Avers (P75396) DICKINSON WRIGHT PLLC 350 S. Main Street, Ste 300 Ann Arbor, MI 48104 (734) 623-1672 [email protected] Of Counsel TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF AUTHORITIES .......................................................................................................... iii INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................... 2 STATEMENT OF ISSUES ............................................................................................................. 3 ARGUMENT ..................................................................................................................... 8 I. Secretary Benson violated Michigan electors’ constitutional right to Equal Protection and Purity of Elections clauses by allowing
    [Show full text]
  • In the Supreme Court of Iowa
    IN THE SUPREME COURT OF IOWA No. 07–1499 Filed April 3, 2009 KATHERINE VARNUM, PATRICIA HYDE, DAWN BARBOUROSKE, JENNIFER BARBOUROSKE, JASON MORGAN, CHARLES SWAGGERTY, DAVID TWOMBLEY, LAWRENCE HOCH, WILLIAM M. MUSSER, OTTER DREAMING, INGRID OLSON, and REVA EVANS, Appellees, vs. TIMOTHY J. BRIEN, In His Official Capacities as the Polk County Recorder and Polk County Registrar, Appellant. Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Polk County, Robert B. Hanson, Judge. Defendant appeals from district court summary judgment ruling holding state statute limiting civil marriage to a union between a man and a woman unconstitutional. AFFIRMED. Roger J. Kuhle and Michael B. O’Meara, Assistant County Attorneys, for appellant. Dennis W. Johnson of Dorsey & Whitney LLP, Des Moines, and Camilla B. Taylor and Kenneth D. Upton, Jr. of Lambda Legal Defense & Education Fund, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, for appellees. 2 John M. Murray of Murray & Murray, PLC, Storm Lake; Paul Benjamin Linton, Special Counsel, Thomas More Society, Northbrook, Illinois; Paul R. Devin, Supreme Advocate, Knights of Columbus, New Haven, Connecticut; and Thomas Brejcha, President and Chief Counsel, Thomas More Society, Chicago, Illinois, for amicus curiae Knights of Columbus. Norman L. Springer, Jr. of McGinn McGinn Jennings & Springer, Council Bluffs, Mathew D. Staver, Stephen M. Crampton, Mary E. McAlister, and David M. Corry, Liberty Counsel, Lynchburg, Virginia, for amicus curiae Liberty Counsel. Michael J. Manno, West Des Moines, for amici curiae Jews Offering New Alternatives to Homosexuality, Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays & Gays, and Evergreen International. Jason M. Steffens of Simmons Perrine PLC, Cedar Rapids, and Roger T. Severino of The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, Washington, D.C., for amicus curiae The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty.
    [Show full text]
  • A Letter to Vice President Mike Pence
    January 5, 2020 Vice President Michael R. Pence Office of the Vice President The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Washington, D.C. 20500 Dear Vice President Pence: The 2020 election witnessed an unprecedented and admitted defiance of state law and procedural irregularities raising questions about the validity of hundreds of thousands of ballots in our respective states. The attached appendix summarizes the illegalities present in the 2020 election and provides evidence of a coordinated and structured multi-state effort to undermine state law protecting election integrity. State legislative bodies have the constitutional authority and responsibility to determine the time, place and manner of elections and the selection of presidential electors. Yet, to date, we have been unable to fulfill those responsibilities in the 2020 Presidential election. The refusal by state executive branch and local officials to comply with reasonable legislative investigation requests, as well as their obfuscation and intentional deception have prevented proper investigation. Moreover, in some instances, state executives have acted to prevent legislatures from meeting as a body and in Michigan, threatened legislators with criminal investigation for meeting to fulfill their constitutional responsibilities. We intend on fulfilling our oaths of office by properly investigating and determining whether the election should be certified, or decertified, by our respective state legislatures. Additional time must be afforded for the legislatures to meet and for state legislators to fulfill their constitutional duties. On January 6, 2021, you are statutorily authorized and required under the Electoral Count Act of 1887 to preside over both houses of Congress to count and record the Presidential electoral vote count to elect the President and Vice President of the United States.
    [Show full text]
  • CHANCERY DIVISION NOVA MADAY, Plaintiff, V. TOWNSHIP HIGH S
    IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT – CHANCERY DIVISION NOVA MADAY, ) ) Plaintiff, ) ) v. ) ) Case No. 17 CH 15791 TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT ) 211, ) ) Defendant, ) ) Hon. Thomas R. Allen, and ) Judge Presiding ) STUDENTS AND PARENTS FOR ) PRIVACY, a voluntary unincorporated ) association, ) ) Proposed Intervenor. ) VERIFIED EMERGENCY PETITION OF STUDENTS AND PARENTS FOR PRIVACY FOR LEAVE TO INTERVENE AS OF RIGHT OR ALTERNATIVELY BY PERMISSION, AND MEMORANDUM OF LAW IN SUPPORT THEREOF NOW COMES Proposed Intervenor Students and Parents for Privacy (hereafter “Privacy Association”), by and through its attorneys, and petitions this Honorable Court for leave to intervene as of right in this cause, pursuant to 735 ILCS 5/2-408(a)(2) or, in the alternative, for leave to intervene by permission, pursuant to 735 ILCS 5/2-408(b)(2). In support of said motion, Privacy Association states as follows: (1) Privacy Association is a voluntary unincorporated association that is comprised of dozens of families, including students and their parents, all of whom are residents of Cook County and all of whom are directly impacted by the policies of Township High School District 211 (hereafter “District 211”). Privacy Association exists to advocate for and defend the privacy interests of its student members, particularly with regard to District 211’s communal privacy 1 facilities (hereafter “privacy facilities”), including restrooms, locker rooms, shower rooms, overnight accommodations on school-sponsored trips, and other similar facilities that are lawfully reserved for members of one sex to ensure their bodily privacy while changing clothes or attending to personal hygiene. Privacy Association desires compassionate support for any student who may not feel comfortable using a sex-specific communal facility, and advocates that individualized privacy facilities for such students be made available.
    [Show full text]
  • Download Legal Document
    No. _________ ================================================================ In The Supreme Court of the United States --------------------------------- --------------------------------- AUTOCAM CORP., et al., Petitioners, v. KATHLEEN SEBELIUS, et al., Respondents. --------------------------------- --------------------------------- On Petition For A Writ Of Certiorari To The United States Court Of Appeals For The Sixth Circuit --------------------------------- --------------------------------- PETITION FOR A WRIT OF CERTIORARI --------------------------------- --------------------------------- THOMAS BREJCHA PATRICK T. GILLEN PETER C. BREEN Counsel of Record THOMAS MORE SOCIETY Associate Professor Law 29 South LaSalle St., Ste. 440 AVE MARIA SCHOOL OF LAW Chicago, IL 60603 CATHOLICVOTE LEGAL (312) 782-1680 DEFENSE FUND 1025 Commons Circle JASON C. MILLER Naples, FL 34119 MILLER JOHNSON (734) 355-4728 250 Monroe Ave., Ste. 800 [email protected] Grand Rapids, MI 49503 (616) 831-1700 Counsel for Petitioners ================================================================ COCKLE LEGAL BRIEFS (800) 225-6964 WWW.COCKLELEGALBRIEFS.COM i QUESTIONS PRESENTED Petitioners are members of the Kennedy family and the two companies through which the Kennedys do business (referred to collectively as “Autocam”). When the petitioners run their business, they follow the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. By virtue of their religious obligation to treat workers well, petitioners provide their employees with a generous (indeed award-winning), healthcare benefits plan including up to $1,500 towards a Health Savings Account (which employees are free to use for any lawful purpose). By virtue of their religious obligation to avoid material cooperation with acts believed to be morally wrong, petitioners have never provided coverage or payments for abortion-inducing drugs, contraceptive drugs or devices, or sterilization. The HHS Mandate, 45 C.F.R. § 147.130, which was promulgated pursuant to the Affordable Care Act, 42 U.S.C.
    [Show full text]
  • No. 22O155 in the Supreme Court of the United States State of Texas, Plaintiff, and Ronald H. Heuer, John Wood
    No. 22O155 In the Supreme Court of the United States ________________ State of Texas, Plaintiff, and Ronald H. Heuer, John Wood, Angelic Johnson, Dr. Linda Lee Tarver, Kristina Karamo, Gary Eisen, John Reilly, Julie Alexander, Matt Maddock, Daire Rendon, Beth Griffin, Douglas Wozniak, Michele Hoitenga, Brad Paquette, Rodney Wakeman, Greg Markkanen and Jack O'Malley, Joe Bellino, Luke Meerman, Brianna Kahle, Daryl D. Metcalfe, Mike Puskaric, Chris E. Dush, Thomas R. Sankey III, Plaintiff-Intervenors, vs. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, State of Georgia, State of Michigan, State of Wisconsin, Defendants. ________________ Allan E. Parker, Jr. Erick G. Kaardal, MN 229647 The Justice Foundation Special Counsel to Amistad Project 8023 Vantage Dr., Suite 1275 of the Thomas More Society San Antonio, TX 78230 Mohrman, Kaardal & Erickson, P.A. Telephone (210) 614-7157 150 South Fifth Street, Suit3100 Email: [email protected] Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402 Telephone: 612-341-1074 Attorneys for Plaintiff-Intervenors Facsimile: 612-341-1076 Email: [email protected] Counsel of Record COMPLAINT-IN-INTERVENTION The above-named Plaintiff-Intervenors Ronald H. Heuer, John Wood, Angelic Johnson, Dr. Linda Lee Tarver, Kristina Karamo, Gary Eisen, John Reilly, Julie Alexander, Matt Maddock, Daire Rendon, Beth Griffin, Douglas Wozniak, Michele Hoitenga, Brad Paquette, Rodney Wakeman, Greg Markkanen and Jack O'Malley, Joe Bellino, Luke Meerman, Brianna Kahle, Daryl D. Metcalfe, Mike Puskaric, Chris E. Dush, Thomas R. Sankey III, for their complaint-in-intervention allege as follows: INTRODUCTION 1. The Plaintiff-intervenors file this complaint seeking a declaratory judgment and an injunction against the various Defendants to establish a constitutional process for the selection of Presidential electors from Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Georgia (“Defendant States”) relating to the November 3, 2020 election of President and Vice President and future elections.
    [Show full text]
  • Friend-Of-The-Court Briefs Filed at the U.S. Supreme Court in Support of Conestoga Wood Specialties and Hobby Lobby in Conestoga Wood Specialties V
    Friend-of-the-court briefs filed at the U.S. Supreme Court in support of Conestoga Wood Specialties and Hobby Lobby in Conestoga Wood Specialties v. Sebelius and Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby Stores Amici Author(s) Summary Democrats for Life of America; Thomas C. Berg; Sandra Hagood America has a strong tradition of accommodating objections to Former Congressman Bart Stupak facilitating abortion. The Plaintiffs have a colorable basis for fearing that the drugs at issue will cause abortions and it is their definition of abortion, not the government’s that is relevant. The Mandate imposes a substantial burden on the exercise of religion that is not justified by a compelling interest and the least restrictive means of accomplishing that interest. 88 Bipartisan Members of Robert Kelner, et. al., Covington & Congress has a long bipartisan tradition of protecting religious Congress Burling freedom, of which RFRA is a powerful example. Congress intended RFRA to be a broad protection of religious freedom applicable to a broad range of individuals and entities, including for-profit corporations. Congress chose to subject the Affordable Care Act to the requirements of RFRA and it fails that standard. Senators Orrin Hatch, Daniel Brendan Walsh, Pashman Stein, P.C.; Amici are part of the broad bipartisan coalition of members who Coats, Thad Cochran, Mike Kevin C. Walsh; John D. Adams, came together to enact RFRA in 1993. RFRA is intended to Crapo, Charles Grassley, James Matthew Fitzgerald, McGuire Woods, protect the free exercise of religion from standard interest group Inhofe, John McCain, Mitch LLP politics. The government has ignored RFRA in enacting this McConnell, Rob Portman, Pat mandate.
    [Show full text]
  • Playing the Long Game How the Christian Right Built Capacity to Undo Roe State by State
    PLAYING THE LONG GAME HOW THE CHRISTIAN RIGHT BUILT CAPACITY TO UNDO ROE STATE BY STATE Political Research Associates June 2019 Political Research Associates is a social justice think tank devoted to supporting movements that are building a more just and inclusive democratic society. We expose movements, institutions, and ideologies that undermine human rights. Copyright © 2019 Political Research Associates ISBN-13: 978-0-915987-33-7 Playing the Long Game: How the Christian Right Built Capacity to Undo Roe State by State, Political Research Associates, June 2019. www.politicalresearch.org PLAYING THE LONG GAME: How the Christian Right Built Capacity to Undo Roe State by State Political Research Associates CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 6 INTRODUCTION 14 HOW THE CHRISTIAN RIGHT BUILT POWER 18 History of Christian Right Institutions 20 Overview of Political Impact of the Christian Right 21 DETAILS ON GOP REDISTRICTING EFFORTS 22 Another Dimension of Gerrymandering 22 GOP Gerrymandering at its Best 23 The Christian Right is an Adaptable and Dynamic Movement 28 Unity Among Evangelicals and Catholics 28 Tactical Shifts in the Christian Right’s Racial Politics 29 Funding of Christian Right 30 HOW THE CHRISTIAN RIGHT ADVANCED ITS ANTI-ABORTION AGENDA 32 Build Enduring Infrastructure at the State and National Levels 34 The Christian Right Seeks Alignment 41 Aligning with Militant Right-Wing Populism 42 States of Siege: Impact of State Takeover on Abortion Access 42 Impact on Abortion Providers and Patients 48 CONCLUSION 50 GLOSSARY 53 ENDNOTES 54 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY THE PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT and advocates for reproductive rights, health, and justice have been caught off guard by a movement that has adapted to a changing political, social, and cultural landscape.
    [Show full text]