Religious Law

Profs Question Oklahoma’s Voter-Approved Ban on Shariah and International Law

Oklahoma voters approved a state constitutional amendment on Tuesday that bars state judges from consulting Islamic and international law when deciding cases. Some constitutional law experts have misgivings, CNN reports. One issue is whether the ban on Shariah law conflicts with the First Amendment prohibition on government establishment of religion.…

Nov 4, 2010 11:50 AM CDT

Law Firm Accused of Planting a Spy and Turning a Lawyer Against His Client

A lawsuit accuses a law firm representing the Archdiocese of St. Louis of getting the secretary for a rebel Catholic parish to act as a spy and manipulating the parish’s one-time lawyer to turn against his client. The suit claims Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale and the lawyer, Roger Krasnicki, “violated…

Oct 21, 2010 12:11 PM CDT

U.S. Attorney Defends Islam in Lawsuit Challenging Tennessee Mosque Permit

The U.S. Attorney in Nashville has filed a brief defending Islam as a religion in a dispute over a Tennessee mosque. U.S. Attorney Jerry Martin said in a press conference on Monday that he would not sit by while mosque opponents contend Islam is a political system rather than a…

Oct 19, 2010 11:27 AM CDT

Canadian Court Ponders Whether Woman Must Remove Niqab to Testify at Sex Assault Trial

Overturning a lower court order requiring a Muslim woman to remove her niqab before testifying against two male relatives at a sexual assault trial, the Ontario Court of Appeal has ruled that a preliminary hearing judge should ponder the issue further before making a determination. While facial demeanor is important…

Oct 13, 2010 9:19 PM CDT

ACLU Sues Over Student Nose-Piercing Suspension Despite Church of Body Modification Beliefs

The American Civil Liberties Union has sued a school board in North Carolina over its suspension of a teenage student for having a peridot stud in a nose-piercing. Because Ariana Iacono belongs, along with her mother, to the Church of Body Modification, the suit contends the suspension violates her constitutional…

Oct 6, 2010 11:49 PM CDT

Grave Encounters

Al Snyder’s son died a Marine, but his funeral has become a First Amendment issue

Oct 1, 2010 9:20 AM CDT

Israeli’s Pork Cookbook Creates Controversy

In a country where religious law against consuming pork is also municipal law in a number of communities, a retired Israeli cardiologist’s self-published pork cookbook is creating controversy. Although the author doesn’t follow dietary law, a number of other Jewish citizens consider it an affront to their shared nationalism, reports…

Sep 29, 2010 2:00 PM CDT

Conflicting Rulings Put Lawyer Who Agreed to Stop Suing Scientology ‘in a Pickle’

A federal judge has ruled that Tampa, Fla., lawyer Ken Dandar can’t withdraw from a case he filed against the Church of Scientology because no other lawyer wants to take on the organization. That puts Dandar “in a pickle,” the St. Petersburg Times reports, because Dandar had agreed to stop…

Sep 1, 2010 2:27 PM CDT

Group Plans to Certify Scholars as Shariah Law Experts for Financial Matters

Addressing concerns that unqualified individuals could be serving as decision-makers on boards that determine whether financial products comply with Shariah religious law, a group of leading Islamic scholars is working to establish a certification process. The International Shariah Research Academy for Islamic Finance in Kuala Lumpur plans to name a…

Aug 31, 2010 7:18 PM CDT

Suit Claims Baptism Injury Forced Law Student to Give Up School

A former law student claims in a lawsuit that he was forced to leave school after injuring his back while performing submersion baptisms for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The pro se suit by Daniel Dastrup, who now lives in Las Vegas, claims he suffered a herniated…

Aug 27, 2010 2:09 PM CDT

New York City Bar Supports Right of Mosque to Locate Near Ground Zero

The New York City Bar says Mayor Michael Bloomberg did the right thing when he refused to interfere with plans to build an Islamic cultural center two blocks from ground zero. The statement by City Bar President Samuel Seymour says the group is concerned about efforts to chill the First…

Aug 23, 2010 3:59 PM CDT

US Appeals Court Rules Roadside Crosses for Fallen Cops Violate Constitution

A federal appeals court has ruled that roadside crosses erected to honor fallen highway patrol officers in Utah violate the establishment clause. The Denver-based 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday in a suit filed by an atheists group, according to stories in the Salt Lake Tribune, the Christian…

Aug 19, 2010 3:14 PM CDT

Jeffs Wins Appeal of Rape Convictions Based on His Role as Minister at 14-Year-Old’s Wedding

Agreeing with defense lawyers that a claimed marital rape involving two teenagers hadn’t been properly focused upon in jury instructions, the Utah Supreme Court has overturned unusual felony accomplice rape convictions of a religious leader based on his role in promoting an underage marriage between an unwilling 14-year-old and her…

Jul 27, 2010 7:14 PM CDT

Lawyer (and BC Law Dean) to Replace Cleric as New President of Catholic University

A law dean known for his scholarship on some of the most divisive issues facing the Catholic Church will be named tomorrow as the new president of Catholic University of America. The appointment of John Garvey, who currently is serving as dean of Boston College Law School, will be only…

Jun 15, 2010 12:11 AM CDT

Law Firm Adds Muslim Imam to Roster as Adviser on Shariah Law

In a move that is being billed as the first of its kind in Australia, a Melbourne law firm is putting a Muslim imam on its roster as a consultant on shariah law. This will allow Logie-Smith Lanyon to draft documents and resolve issues in matters ranging from commercial contracts…

May 10, 2010 4:47 PM CDT