Thomas More Law Center

The Sword and Shield for People of Faith

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Supreme Court Will Consider Whether to Grant TMLC’s Petition for Review on November 10, 2011

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imag519Yesterday, the Thomas More Law Center’s Petition for Review of their case challenging Obamacare was delivered to the nine Justices of the United States Supreme Court along with four other pending petitions.

On November 10, 2011, the Court, in private session, will consider for the first time whether to grant review on all, some, or none of the cases. A grant of review is not assured. However, if the Court grants review, it will also determine on what issues.

The Thomas More Law Center v. Obama  challenge asks: (1) Whether Congress acted within its constitutional powers in passing the individual mandate provision of the Affordable Care Act; and (2) Whether the individual mandate provision of the Act is unconstitutional as applied to the individual petitioners who lack health insurance.

TMLC filed the first lawsuit against Obamacare moments after President Obama signed the bill in March 2010.  TMLC’s challenge was filed on behalf of the Law Center and four private citizens.

Although review is not certain, legal experts agree the Court will likely grant review because of conflicting opinions in the lower courts on the constitutionality of the individual mandate, which is the signature and most controversial provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Filings in the cases can be found on the Supreme Court’s website, here.  The four other petitions to be considered by the Justices in November are:

  • National Federation of Independent Business, et al., v. Sebelius
  • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, et al., v. Florida, et al.
  • Florida, et al., v. H.H.S.
  • Liberty University, et al., v. Geithner, et al.

West Point Graduate and Former Army Ranger Appointed as Director of Mission Advancement for TMLC

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imag600ANN, ARBOR, MI —The Thomas More Law Center today announced the appointment of Thomas J. Lynch as its Director of Mission Advancement.  Lieutenant Colonel Tom Lynch retired from the United States Army Reserves in August 2010.  Lynch received his Regular Army commission in 1982 from the United States Military Academy at West Point, earning a Bachelor of Science in Engineering.

The Thomas More Law Center is a national public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  Its mission is to preserve and promote America’s Judeo-Christian heritage and moral values, a strong national defense, and an independent and sovereign United States of America.

Lynch assumes the newly created position and reports directly to the President and Chief Counsel of the Law Center, Richard Thompson.  Commented Thompson, “With his devotion to duty, honor, country, his experience as an Army officer and business leader, and a deep commitment to his Christian faith, Tom will be a key player in advancing the Law Center’s mission.”

Lynch served on active duty upon graduation for almost 6 years, serving as the graduate assistant soccer coach at West Point prior to starting as a Field Artillery officer at Fort Hood, TX.  Lynch was selected to join the 75th Ranger Regiment as a Forward Observer Team Chief and completed his duties at Fort Benning, GA, serving in several Field Artillery Battery and Battalion positions.

In January, 1988, Lynch resigned his active duty commission and after a short stint with the NJ Army National Guard, completed 21 years of service with the US Army Reserves.  During that time, he served in a variety of Command and Staff positions.  He was a Battery Commander, Battalion Operations and Executive Officer, Battalion Commander, Brigade Operations and Executive Officer and Principal Inspector General for the 85th Division (TS) for over 4 years.  He was mobilized as an Inspector General for 2 ½ years in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.  He attended the US Army Airborne School, US Army Ranger School and the Army’s Command and General Staff College and has received numerous awards.

He joins the Thomas More Law Center after being brought back on active duty to be the Executive Officer and Recruiting Operations Officer for the University of Michigan’s Army ROTC Program in Ann Arbor, MI.  During his tenure, he was selected to the Voices of the Staff’s Leadership Development Team by the University President, Mary Sue Coleman.

Besides his military experience, Lynch held executive positions in sales, distribution, international product management, global sourcing, manufacturing and real estate with Pepsi Cola, Federal Mogul and Corvus International.

Lynch serves on the Board of Directors of Leadership Oakland, the West Point Society of Michigan, Legatus International of Detroit and Covenant House Academies in Detroit.  He serves as a staff member of the Michigan Freedom Academy each year and is the volunteer state coordinator in Michigan for the West Point Admissions Field Force.

He is a lifetime member of the Veteran’s of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Association of the United States Army, Military Officer’s Association and the Reserves Officer’s Association.

Thomas J. Lynch was born in Jersey City, NJ and grew up in NY outside of New York City.  He was the oldest of four children born to J. Brendan and Elizabeth J. Lynch.  Lynch attended Albertus Magnus High School in Bardonia, NY. He and his wife, Kate, have three teenage children and reside in Bloomfield Hills, MI.

The Thomas More Law Center is supported by contributions from individuals, corporations and foundations, and is recognized by the IRS as a section 501(c) (3) organization. The Law Center does not charge for its services.  You may reach the Thomas More Law Center at (734) 827-2001 or visit our website at www.thomasmore.org.

TMLC to Appeal Controversial 9th Circuit Decision Outlawing Classroom Banners Mentioning “God

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ANN ARBOR, MI – The Thomas More Law Center announced today that it will petition for an en banc review of the imag586controversial Ninth Circuit Court 3-judge panel decisionthat overturned a lower court decision, which had upheld the right of a school teacher to display patriotic banners in his classroom that mentioned God.

The phrase “en banc” refers to the entire U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. In this case, the entire eligible voting membership of the Ninth Circuit will determine if the en banc petition should be granted. If the petition is granted, eleven circuit judges will be selected to rehear the appeal.

For more than twenty-five years, Brad Johnson, a high school math teacher at the Poway Unified School District in San Diego, CA, displayed large red, white and blue banners in his classroom that mention God. The banners contain patriotic phrases such as: “In God We Trust,” “One Nation Under God,” and “God Bless America.”

 

 

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However, in 2007 school officials ordered the banners removed because they promoted a “Judeo-Christian” viewpoint.

Astonishingly, the officials left untouched classroom displays by other teachers that included Dalai Lama and Malcom X posters, Tibetan prayer flags, anti-religious song lyrics, and gay and lesbian promotional materials.

As a result, the Thomas More Law Center, a national public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, filed a federal lawsuit against the school district on behalf of Johnson. The case is being handled by Rob Muise, the Law Center’s Senior Trial Counsel.

Richard Thompson, President and Chief Counsel of the Law Center, commented, “The three-judge panel’s rationale in allowing the Tibetan Prayer Flags and references to other religions while outlawing America’s patriotic slogans that mention God is troubling and unconvincing. Brad Johnson was simply exercising his free speech rights regarding the religious foundations of our Nation.”

Said Thompson, “This is another example of hostility towards Christianity and attempts by public schools to cleanse our Nation’s classrooms of our religious heritage while promoting atheism and other religions under the guise of cultural diversity.”

This weekend we commemorate the 10th anniversary of September 11, 2001

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Never Forget….

This weekend we commemorate the 10th anniversary of September 11, 2001. This is a time to remember and honor our fellow citizens who lost their lives in the Twin Towers, the Pentagon and in a field in Pennsylvania.

This is also a time to remember the thousands of American soldiers killed and wounded in the ensuing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as they defended our nation and our freedoms.

And we remember and pray for the safety of our troops now in harm’s way.

In his speech given on the evening of September 11th, President George W. Bush remarked;
“Today, our nation saw evil, the very worst of human nature, and we responded with the best of America.”

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We will never forget;

  • the disturbing images of planes striking the World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon,
  • the horrifying cell phone audio from passengers on Flight 93,
  •  the dust of destruction covering survivors, fire fighters, and rescue workers,
  • the stunned faces and immeasurable grief captured in photographs
  • the bravery of New York’s first responders risking their lives to save others

On September 11th, President Bush said,
“Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shatter steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve.”

On this 10th Anniversary, to honor those who have died and those who are still fighting on the battlefields around the world, the federal government’s first priority must be to strengthen our military, not weaken it.   

The quote below, etched in stone in the U.S. Military Academy library at West Point, was written by Thomas Jefferson in a letter to George Washington in December 1788.  His words resonate today, nearly two and a quarter centuries later.

 “The power of making war often prevents it, and in our case would give efficacy to our desire of peace.”
Troops KIA Marines

For its part, TMLC rededicates itself to promote and defend America’s national security and an independent and sovereign United States of America. To that end, we will continue our fight against the internal threat of radical Islam here in America.

God Bless you and God Bless the United States of America!