Uncategorized

ANN ARBOR, MI – The Thomas More Law Center today praised Attorney General Michael Cox for his defense of Michigan’s constitutional amendment banning same sex marriage, and at the same time blasted the Governor and several public universities for supporting the homosexual agenda’s efforts to thwart the will of the people.

The Law Center’s comments came in response to yesterday’s Michigan Supreme Court ruling that the constitutional amendment banning same same-sex marriages blocks Michigan governments, cities, and state universities from offering “domestic partnership” benefits to homosexual couples.

The Thomas More Law Center, a national Christian public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, played a significant role in drafting the language of the constitutional amendment.  The Law Center also filed a friend of the court brief on behalf of “Citizens for the Protection of Marriage,” urging the Michigan Supreme Court to affirm the Court of Appeals ruling.

Richard Thompson, President and Chief Counsel of the Thomas More Law Center commented, “The Law Center applauds the courageous actions of Michigan Attorney General Michael A. Cox for defending the will of the people.   Unfortunately, the same accolades cannot be given to the Governor of Michigan, Jennifer Granholm, who decided to abrogate her responsibilities as the chief executive officer of the state by withdrawing her name and office from upholding the law, and then changing sides—siding with the homosexual groups that opposed the amendment.”

Thompson also decried the efforts of several publicly financed universities, including the University of Michigan, Michigan State, Eastern Michigan, and Wayne State Universities; which sided with the homosexual groups and used tax dollars in an attempt to defeat the will of the very people from whom they owe their existence.

Thompson went on to say, “The language that the Law Center helped craft for this Amendment has proven to be the model for the rest of the country on how to protect traditional marriage.  This ruling not only affirms the lower court ruling, but affirms the institution of marriage.  In effect, it strengthens the institution and will preserve it for generations to come.”

Michigan citizens voted overwhelmingly in 2004 to adopt a state constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, by nearly 60%.  Yesterday’s 5-2 decision affirms a state Court of Appeals ruling.

The Michigan Supreme Court ruled that ‘benefits’ cannot be given on the basis of a ‘same-sex domestic partnership.’

Michigan’s constitutional amendment provides in pertinent part, “…the union of one man and one woman in marriage shall be the only agreement recognized as a marriage or similar union for any purpose.”  The amendment is intended to prohibit courts or other efforts to impose same-sex marriage, polygamy, or any other form of counterfeit “marriage” on the state.

The Thomas More Law Center defends and promotes the religious freedom of Christians, time-honored family values, and the sanctity of human life through litigation, education, 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.

ANN ARBOR, MI –The Michigan Supreme Court ruled today that the constitutional amendment banning same same-sex marriages blocks Michigan governments and state universities from offering “domestic partnership” benefits to homosexual couples.

The Thomas More Law Center, a national Christian public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, played a significant role in drafting the language of the constitutional amendment.  Michigan citizens voted overwhelmingly in 2004 to adopt a state constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, by nearly 60%.  Today’s 5-2 decision affirms a Michigan Court of Appeals ruling.

Richard Thompson, President and Chief Counsel of the Thomas More Law Center, commented, “The Michigan Supreme Court courageously upheld the will of the people.”

Michigan’s constitutional amendment, considered the broadest of the 11 state amendments, provides that “…the union of one man and one woman in marriage shall be the only agreement recognized as a marriage or similar union for any purpose.”  The amendment is intended to prohibit courts or other efforts to impose same-sex marriage, polygamy, or any other form of counterfeit “marriage” on the state.

The Thomas More Law Center defends and promotes the religious freedom of Christians, time-honored family values, and the sanctity of human life through litigation, education, 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.

ANN ARBOR, MI – Attorneys defending Marine Lt. Colonel Jeffrey Chessani will be in a Military Court at Camp Pendleton, California on Wednesday, May 7, 2008, pressing forward with additional oral arguments on two critical motions, as well as other pretrial matters.

Robert Muise, an attorney with the Thomas More Law Center which is defending LtCol Chessani, will be arguing that the case should be dismissed on two separate grounds: first, that the existence of unlawful command influence prevents Chessani from receiving a fair trial, and second, that Chessani has been the victim of selective prosecution for improper reasons.

Richard Thompson, President and Chief Counsel for the Law Center, commented, “There is no doubt that Lt. Colonel Chessani is a  political scapegoat for the politicians in the Pentagon who wanted to appease the anti-war press and their fellow politicians in Congress.   Even before the investigation into the Haditha case was completed, anti-war Congressman John Murtha publicly proclaimed that Marines killed in ‘cold blood’ and that the officers were involved in a ‘cover-up.’  Murtha claimed he obtained his information from senior Marine Corps officials.”

In addition to Law Center attorney Robert Muise, detailed military defense counsel Lt. Colonel John Shelburne, USMC, and Captain Jeff King, USMC, will be representing LtCol Chessani at the Wednesday hearing.

Defense attorneys will also seek to exclude certain government witnesses from testifying at the trial based on the Judge’s statement in a previous hearing limiting the issues in the case.  In addition, defense attorneys will ask the Judge to order further discovery of documents in the possession of the Government and will examine a witness in furtherance of the motions to dismiss on grounds of unlawful command influence and selective prosecution.

The criminal charges against LtCol Chessani stem from his Marines’ response to a complex attack that was initiated by insurgents in a residential area in Haditha, Iraq on November 19, 2005.  A house-to-house, room-by- room battle ensued in which 15 civilians were killed.  At the time, LtCol Chessani was the battalion commander of the Third Battalion, First Marine Regiment, one of the most decorated battalions in our nation’s history.

Chessani is charged with “dereliction of duty” and “orders” violations stemming from this terrorist attack in the once insurgent-laden town of Haditha.  This battle cost the Marines fourteen casualties and one killed.  The insurgents, hiding amongst women and children in civilian homes, caused the death of fifteen civilians as the Marines fought back.

Months later, Time magazine ran a story that was planted by an insurgent propaganda agent.  This story added fuel to the political prosecution, which was led by Congressman Murtha.  Now, LtCol Chessani, one of America’s most effective combat commanders in Iraq, faces dismissal (an officer’s equivalent of a dishonorable discharge), loss of retirement, and imprisonment of up to 3 years for allegedly not reporting or “thoroughly” investigating the incident, despite the established fact that all of the senior leadership in his chain-of-command, including general officers, knew that day or the very next morning all of the relevant details of the incident.  No one in LtCol Chessani’s chain of command saw the need for further action nor directed any such action.

Thompson continued, “The insurgents are laughing in their caves.  The story of Marines killing civilians in cold blood on November 19, 2005, was planted by a known insurgent propaganda operative.  They have successfully eliminated one of America’s most effective combat commanders in Iraq without firing a shot.”

The actual court-martial trial is scheduled to begin June 17, 2008.  It was continued from its original start date of April 28, 2008.

The Thomas More Law Center defends and promotes the religious freedom of Christians, time-honored family values, and the sanctity of human life through litigation, education, 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.

ANN ARBOR, MI – The Thomas More Law Center announced today that on Tuesday, May 6th, the Board of Miami-Dade County Commissioners will consider an outrageous proposal that would force taxpayers to pay for marriage benefits to the partners of its homosexual employees, under a so-called ‘Domestic Partnership’ ordinance.   The Thomas More Law Center has been working with the “Christian Family Coalition” (based in Miami-Dade County) and the “Florida Family Association” in order to attempt to thwart this radical homosexual power grab.

At a recent public hearing on the proposed ordinance, commissioners heard testimony from individuals claiming this “homosexual marriage” ordinance would not cost the County any money to extend healthcare benefits to domestic partners. However, this has now been uncovered as a complete falsehood.

According to County Manager George Burgess’ April 16th memo to County Commissioners, he estimates the yearly subsidy for the domestic partner of a county employee to be $2,200 and estimates up to 900 domestic partners will sign up under the domestic policy for a total annual price tag of nearly $2 million taxpayer dollars. This ordinance also would establish an official registry for same-sex couples costing taxpayers over $40,000 a year.

This will certainly affect the level of future pay raises given the current budget shortfall in Miami-Dade County.

According to the Thomas More Law Center’s legal analysis, the ‘Domestic Partner’ proposal clearly violates Florida’s Defense of Marriage Act (D.O.M.A.).  TMLC has promised to pursue filing a lawsuit against Miami-Dade County should this ordinance be adopted.

Richard Thompson, President and Chief Counsel of the Thomas More Law Center commented, “The public policy of the state of Florida is to only recognize traditional marriage.  We have seen this word game, slippery-slope tactic used by radical homosexual groups before.   First they ask for ‘domestic partnerships,’ then a year or so later they demand that courts recognize their “civil right” to marry.  This is why the Thomas More Law Center also supports the Florida constitutional amendment to protect marriage in Florida this Fall.”

Join us at a “Rally For Marriage” on Tuesday, MAY 6, 2008 at  8:00 A.M.  The rally is to support marriage as the union of one man and one woman in Miami-Dade County at the STEPHEN P. CLARK BUILDING located at 111 NW 1ST Street in Miami.

The Thomas More Law Center defends and promotes the religious freedom of Christians, time-honored family values, and the sanctity of human life through litigation, education, 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.