ANN ARBOR, MI — Today, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in Pasadena, California, will hear oral argument in a case seeking to defend the constitutional rights of pro-life demonstrators. The case involves a police detention of peaceful pro-life demonstrators by several deputies of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department who claimed that the demonstrators’ display of pictures of abortion were “disruptive,” in violation of a California statute. The demonstrators were engaging in their pro-life speech activity on the public streets.
The Thomas More Law Center, a national, public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, will present oral argument on behalf of the Center for Bio-Ethical Reform, Inc., a California-based, pro-life organization. The organization claims that its constitutional rights were violated during the police detention, which occurred in March 2003.
Robert Muise, trial counsel for the Law Center, will argue that it is a fundamental principle of the First Amendment that government officials cannot prohibit silent, peaceful, non-obstructive, political speech on the public streets, a traditional public forum, because certain listeners or viewers find the speech offensive.
The Thomas More Law Center defends and promotes the religious freedom of Christians, time-honored family values, and the sanctity of human life through education, litigation, and related activities. It does not charge for its services. The Law Center is supported by contributions from individuals, corporations and foundations, and is recognized by the IRS as a section 501(c)(3) organization. You may reach the Thomas More Law Center at (734) 827-2001 or visit our website at www.thomasmore.org.