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July 20, 2009 9:04 pm | By Ben Betz
Texas May Bar Students from Learning About Cesar Chavez, Thurgood Marshall
From the AFL-CIO's blog:United Farmworkers founder César Chávez is an unfitting role model for students, and former Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall is not an appropriate historical figure. So say “expert reviewers” in their report to the Texas State Board…
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July 16, 2009 10:04 pm | By Taneshia
Today’s Confirmation Hearings at a Glance
In case you missed it: here’s a quick – albeit somewhat spliced – recounting of the day’s events. From the right to choose to gay marriage, TV in the courtroom to yes, the inevitable “wise Latina” comment, Judge Sotomayor held…
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July 16, 2009 7:55 pm | By Ben Betz
John Yoo: Still Lying
The blog The Anonymous Liberal does a fantastic job picking apart John Yoo’s op-ed in today’s Wall Street Journal defending himself against the findings of the recently released Inspector General’s report. In this morning’s Wall Street Journal, John Yoo has an…
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July 15, 2009 10:08 pm | By Taneshia
Sessions Wrong on Sotomayor’s “Muddled Testimony”
Senator Jeff Sessions just doesn’t know when to stop. In an interview with CNN this afternoon, he complains that Judge Sotomayor’s responses to his questioning lacked “clarity”—unlike those of Justices Alito and Roberts.Well, this seems pretty clear…
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July 14, 2009 10:14 pm | By Taneshia
Biased Critiques of Sotomayor’s “Judicial Temperament”
Amid questioning concerning her supposed “aggressive” judicial temperament and “bullying” courtroom demeanor, Judge Sotomayor today emerged from the tussle of the hearings a composed and careful speaker, unwilling to let pointed critiques ruffle her feathers.Senator Lindsey Graham read comments by attorneys…
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July 14, 2009 3:25 pm | By Taneshia
An Interesting Op-Ed Analyzes Republican Outrage at Sotomayor’s “Wise Latina” Remark
The first day of Judge Sotomayor’s confirmation hearings was replete with opening statements from Republican Senators expressing their concerns about her 2001 “wise Latina” remark: “I would hope that a wise Latina woman, with the richness of her experiences, would…
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July 13, 2009 9:46 pm | By Tanya
First Day of Sotomayor Confirmation Hearings
Judge Sotomayor’s confirmation hearings began this morning before the Senate Judiciary Committee with the opening statements of Chairperson Leahy and Ranking Member Sessions, followed by each of the remaining members in order of seniority.Most Senators lauded Judge Sotomayor’s experience on…
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July 9, 2009 8:20 pm | By Drew Courtney
Witness List for Sotomayor Hearing Announced
Today, Senators Leahy and Sessions released the list of witnesses who will testify at the Senate Judiciary Committee’s hearings on Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor. We’re happy to see that Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel will be among those testifying.…
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July 9, 2009 3:49 pm | By Paul Gordon
Indefinite Detention: Wrong Under Bush, Wrong Under Obama
For some people in Guantanamo Bay who are found not guilty in a court of law for whatever they are eventually put on trial for, the Obama Administration is floating the idea of keeping them in "indefinite detention" anyway. According…
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July 2, 2009 7:55 pm | By Willard
233 Years Old and Still Looking Good
Birthdays are a good time to look back and take stock of the previous year’s events. Usually a person tries to get a hold of the where they have been and where they want to go. On July 4th, you…
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June 29, 2009 10:08 pm | By Marge Baker
Judicial Activism and Horne v. Flores
Given all the recent talk from the Right about judicial activism, it was pretty amazing to see Justice Alito's contortions in Thursday's decision in Horne v. Flores that gave the Arizona School Superintendent one more shot at justifying what seems to…
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June 26, 2009 5:45 pm | By Stacey Gates
African American Ministers In Action Participate in Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on Hate Crimes
AAMIA Members Revs. Frank Dunn and Joseph Smith attended yesterday’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on The Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009 (S.909), where Committee Chair Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) acknowledged the work of AAMIA toward passage of…
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June 25, 2009 3:28 pm | By Stacey Gates
AAMIA Chair Rev. Timothy McDonald Turns Up the Heat at Healthcare For All Rally
“You think its hot now, wait until we turn up the heat on [Congress] with our activism on health care reform.” - Rev. Timothy McDonald, Pastor of First Iconium BaptistChurch in Atlanta. Rev. Timothy McDonald, chair of our African American…
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June 24, 2009 2:51 pm | By Stacey Gates
Broad Coalition Calls for Mormon Church to End Anti-Gay Policies
A broad group of current and former Mormons, non-Mormoms, gays, and heterosexuals united to call on leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to end their anti-gay policies and their involvement with anti-gay politics (California’s Prop. 8)…
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June 19, 2009 6:39 pm | By Stacey Gates
President Obama, Census Bureau Looking at Ways to Recognize Same-Sex Marriages in 2010 Census
Pres. Obama and the White House are now looking at ways to include same-sex marriages, unions and partnerships in 2010 Census data – another small step of what we hope will be a larger agenda toward equal justice under the…
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June 18, 2009 7:20 pm | By Willard
Obama Takes Small Step for LGBT Equality When He Promised a Leap
Since taking office, the American people have seen a flurry of activity from the Obama administration, ranging from increased diplomatic efforts abroad to fixing the economic crisis at home. There is one area, however, where we’ve seen far too little…
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June 18, 2009 6:44 pm | By Stacey Gates
Bishop Harry Jackson Challenges DC Board’s Decision to Forego Same-Sex Marriage Referendum
Not that this comes as a surprise to anyone, but Bishop Harry Jackson and other opponents of same-sex marriage have filed a lawsuit here in DC hoping to get a referendum on the ballot on whether to recognize same-sex marriages…
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June 16, 2009 8:08 pm | By Willard
Fourteen Years Later, PFAW Continues to Denounce ‘Irresponsible Speech’ and Intolerance in Our Country
It’s no mistake that freedom of speech is in the first Amendment to the Constitution. It’s impossible to overstate its importance to our democratic system. But respect for free speech doesn’t give us the right to turn a blind eye…
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June 13, 2009 2:31 am | By Paul Gordon
Despite Promise, Obama Defends DOMA
Today, President Obama’s Justice Department, in a motion to dismiss a lawsuit against the Defense of Marriage Act, argued that DOMA is constitutional. The Administration argues that DOMA “does not impinge upon rights that have been recognized as fundamental.” I…
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June 11, 2009 9:46 pm | By Willard
James von Brunn Finds Inspiration from the Work of Other White-Supremacists
James von Brunn, the 88 year old man who opened deadly gun fire on D.C.’s Holocaust Museum yesterday, was a member of multiple anti-Semitic groups. During his time living in Hayden, Idaho, von Brunn became a member of Aryan Nations,…