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Thomas More Law Center: Haditha Battalion Commander A Political Scapegoat

April 2, 2007 by

ANN ARBOR, MI – It is clear that the Battalion Commander of the Marines charged in the so called “Haditha Massacre” is a political scapegoat of the anti-war efforts led by Congressman John Murtha and Time magazine. This was the conclusion of Richard Thompson, President and Chief Counsel of the Thomas More Law Center, a national public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

The Law Center is assisting military counsel in the defense of Marine Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Chessani without charge. Chessani is accused of failing to properly report and investigate the battle that occurred on November 19, 2005 in which 15 Iraqi civilians were killed.

Said Thompson, “This is a media-instigated prosecution, influenced by Iraqi propagandists and inflamed by Congressman Murtha’s outrageous public comments prejudging the guilt of Marines to bolster his anti-war agenda.”

Thompson’s public comments are based on his office’s review of thousands of pages of investigative reports, interviews and sworn depositions of key combat officers intimately familiar with the events surrounding the November 19, 2005 ambush of a Marine convoy in the city of Haditha, Al Anbar Province, one of the deadliest cities in Iraq.

The decision to launch a criminal investigation of the November 19 incident was made three months after its occurrence as a result of a Time Magazine news lead, which military commanders in the field suspected was instigated by terrorist propaganda.

Congressman John Murtha, an outspoken anti-war critic and chairman of the House military appropriations subcommittee, months before the investigation was completed, publicly accused the four Marines of being “cold-blooded murderers” and high-ranking officers of “covering it up.”

Brian J. Rooney, the Law Center spokesman and a former Marine Captain, who spent 7 months in Iraq, commented, “Our office has just taken the first round of depositions of key witnesses who will be redeployed outside of the country. I can promise you some stunning revelations showing Lieutenant Colonel Chessani will be exonerated of all the charges against him.”

Said Rooney, “We are looking forward to getting on with the Article 32 Hearing. Unfortunately, it has taken the government a large amount of time to release all of the evidence in their possession. In fact, on March 20, 2007 our office received 4,000 more pages of discovery (the Bargwell Report) from the government. We originally requested March 21, 2007 as the date we wanted to start the Article 32 Hearing. The delay in getting us crucial evidence forced a further delay.”

The Article 32 Hearing date was moved from March 21, 2007 to May 14, 2007. This date may further move to May 30, 2007 to accommodate all parties involved. The original officer appointed as the Investigating Officer for the Article 32, Colonel George Smith, USMC has been replaced—due to his unavailability—by Colonel Christopher Conlin, USMC.

The maximum punishment at a General Court-Martial that Chessani could face is dismissal (an officer’s equivalent of a dishonorable discharge), loss of retirement, and imprisonment of up to 3 years.

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.

Social Evening At Jupiter Island, Florida Raises Funds For The Thomas More Law Center

March 30, 2007 by

ANN ARBOR, MI – More than 60 guests enjoyed an evening of great conversation, music and serious presentations at a private reception hosted Dr. and Mrs. Walter Knysz at their Jupiter Island, Florida home. The purpose of the March 16 event was to raise funds for the Thomas More Law Center, a national non-profit Christian legal advocacy group based in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

“Dr. and Mrs. Walter Knysz were very gracious to host this wonderful event. We are thankful for the opportunity they gave us to raise awareness about the major issues in the Culture War. It was a financial success as well, raising over $34,000.” said Thomas More Law Center spokesman Brian Rooney.

Retired Admiral and former U. S. Senator from Alabama, Jeremiah Denton, was the main speaker of the evening. President Ronald Reagan publicly recognized him as a true American hero. Denton gained national prominence when as a Vietnam POW under threat of continued torture and death, he refused to condemn America in front of communist dignitaries and cameras. Instead he blinked T-O-R-T-U-R-E in Morse Code, giving Naval intelligence positive proof that American POWs were being tortured. Admiral Denton spoke about his nearly 8 years as a POW and why he is so concerned about the direction of American culture. He serves as a member of the Thomas More Law Center’s Citizens Advisory Board.

Edwin O’Brien – Archbishop of the Military Services, gave a presentation on the state of the military Chaplaincy, and Law Center President Richard Thompson gave a short presentation on several current cases the Law Center is handling.

Irish folk singer and locally famous artist, Hugh O’Neill, not only provided the music, but donated an oil painting on canvas of the Irish seaside for the silent auction. The silent auction also featured a donated bronzed bust of Christ by Southwest artist Dan Brook, a Ben Rothlisberger signed football donated by the Rooney Family, and a Lou Holtz signed and donated “Irish” helmet.

“It was a natural for the Law Center to have an event in this area. Florida has become a crucial battleground in the Culture War. And our activity here has been increasing. We have been very successful in Florida, especially in cases dealing with public displays of nativity scenes during Christmas in places like the Town of Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, and North Miami Beach.” said Thompson.

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.

Thomas More Law Center Successfully Defends Pro-Life Advocate

March 28, 2007 by

ANN ARBOR, MI – The Thomas More Law Center, a national public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, successfully defended Gene Forro, a pro-life advocate in Flint, Michigan. Forro has been active in the pro-life movement for twenty years and regularly engages in pro-life advocacy outside the Feminine Health Care Clinic, a Flint abortion facility.

This past January, without Forro’s knowledge, the director of the clinic obtained a personal protection order against Forro, claiming he was harassing her. According to the terms of the order, Forro was no longer permitted to appear at the clinic to engage in his pro-life ministry, which includes sidewalk counseling and praying for the end of abortion.

As soon as Forro learned about the personal protection order, he contacted the Thomas More Law Center, which agreed to represent him. Edward L. White III, trial counsel with the Law Center, appeared at three hearings on Forro’s behalf. On March 19, 2007, the court entered an order terminating the personal protection order. Forro is now again permitted to engage in his peaceful pro-life ministry outside the clinic.

According to Richard Thompson, President and Chief Counsel for the Thomas More Law Center, “People in the abortion industry often use the court system to intimidate and silence pro-life advocates. Here, we are pleased we had the opportunity to successfully represent Mr. Forro and at no charge to him.”

Forro commented, “I am glad I can continue my pro-life ministry.”

Bowie Kuhn, Chairman Of The Thomas More Law Center’s Advisory Board, Laid To Rest Today

March 20, 2007 by

ANN ARBOR, MI – The Thomas More Law Center, a national Christian legal advocacy group based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, mourns the loss of the Chairman of its Citizens Advisory Board – Bowie Kuhn.

Mr. Kuhn died on March 15, 2007, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida. Kuhn, who lived in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, was 80. Many know that Bowie Kuhn was Commissioner of Major League Baseball from 1969-1984. “He led our game through a great deal of change and controversy,” current commissioner Bud Selig said. “Yet, Bowie laid the groundwork for the success we enjoy today.” “He wore the mantle really well. He liked being commissioner,” Yankees manager Joe Torre said. “He never seemed to compromise on what he felt he needed to do.”

Since leaving baseball, Bowie Kuhn has been a leader in the Catholic community. Richard Thompson, President and Chief Counsel to the Thomas More Law Center, attended Bowie Kuhn’s funeral. Thompson commented, “Bowie was one of the most virtuous and intelligent men I ever met. He was an articulate steadfast spokesman for the Christian community.”

The Thomas More Law Center was on Bowie Kuhn’s mind the day he passed. Bowie Kuhn told a member of the clergy in the hospital that the Thomas More Law Center was a great organization.

Brian Rooney, Director of Communications for the Law Center, said, “I had the privilege of meeting Bowie Kuhn recently in Naples, Florida, with my father. My grandfather, Art Rooney, founder of the Pittsburgh Steelers, was a huge baseball fan, and not surprisingly was good friends with Bowie Kuhn. I will always cherish the stories Bowie Kuhn told me and my father that day about his friendship with my grandfather.”

Bowie Kuhn was a graduate of Princeton University and had earned a law degree from the University of Virginia. “I want it to be remembered that I was commissioner during a time of tremendous growth in the popularity of the game,” Kuhn said, “and that it was a time in which no one could question the integrity of the game.”

“Bowie was a good guy, and I admired him. Even though we had our disagreements, I never lost my respect for his integrity,” George Steinbrenner said through spokesman Howard Rubenstein.

Bowie Kent Kuhn grew up in Washington, D.C, the youngest of three children. His father, Louis, an immigrant from Bavaria, was an executive with a fuel company. His mother, Alice, her roots in 17th-century Maryland, descended from five governors, two United States senators, and the frontiersman Jim Bowie.

Bowie Kuhn is survived by his wife, Luisa; his son, Stephen, of Chappaqua, New York; his daughter, Alix Bower of Ridgefield, Connecticut; two stepsons, Paul Degener, of Redding, Connecticut, and George Degener of Somers, New York; a sister, Alice McKinley of St. Augustine, Florida; and 10 grandchildren.

ACLU Pushes To Stop All Prayer By Local Louisiana School Board; TMLC Submits Brief In Opposition

March 12, 2007 by

ANN ARBOR, MI – A local Louisiana school board continued to battle the ACLU’s efforts to ban its 30 year practice of opening its meetings with an invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. In 2005, a federal district court judge sided with the ACLU and banned all school board prayers. The judge’s decision was later affirmed by a 3-judge panel of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Now, the entire panel of sixteen active judges of the Fifth Circuit will rehear the case.

The Thomas More Law Center, a national pubic interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, has submitted a friend of the court brief supporting the Tangipahoa Parish School Board in Louisiana. The school board has been engaged in this 4 year legal battle with the ACLU over the right to open its meetings with prayers.

The ACLU sued the Board in 2003 on behalf of the parent of two high school students. The federal trial judge, Helen Ginger Berrigan, determined that the school board was violating the Establishment Clause and permanently enjoined the school board from opening its meetings with any prayer. (Judge Berrigan was President of the ACLU of Louisiana before President Clinton had appointed her a federal judge.) What is really upsetting the ACLU is that the school board asks for Divine guidance and uses such phrases as “God,” “Heavenly Father,” and “Jesus.”

According to Richard Thompson, Chief Counsel and President of the Thomas More Law Center, “If the ACLU believes that public prayer is un-American and must be stopped, I wonder how they would have stopped the prayers of our Founding Fathers as they deliberated on the establishment of our nation.”

Continued Thompson, “The ACLU’s claim that they are merely attempting to stop Christian indoctrination of students is nonsense. What they are attempting to do is promote their own brand of religion—atheism or secular humanism.”

The brief, authored by Law Center trial counsel Edward L. White III, argued that under Louisiana law, the Tangipahoa Parish School Board is a deliberative body designed to act in the public interest. As a deliberative body, the United States Supreme Court’s Marsh decision permits the school board to open its meetings with a prayer just as any other deliberative body may do.

According to White, “We have brought to the Fifth Circuit’s attention numerous prayers said to open sessions of the United States House of Representatives, also a deliberative body, that are no different in substance to the prayers said to open Tangipahoa Parish School Board meetings. If the law permits the House of Representatives to open its sessions with prayer, then the law should also permit the school board to open its meetings with similar prayers.”

No Mistake: “In God We Trust” Off the Face of $1 Presidential Coins

March 8, 2007 by

ANN ARBOR, MI – (Picture enlarged and specially lighted) The Thomas More Law Center, a national public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan today requested that the American public avoid using the newly minted coins not because of a minting error, but because the Presidential $1 Coin Act, enacted into law in 2005 requires the government to remove “In God We Trust” from the face of the coin and put it on the edge.

Many Americans believed that the lack of our National Motto “In God We Trust” on the face of the $1 Presidential coin was merely a minting error. That was because earlier in the week the Mint acknowledged that it discovered an unspecified number of the newly minted coins had the National Motto missing – by mistake. What the Thomas More Law Center takes issue with is the fact that the Mint has relegated “In God We Trust” to the virtually unreadable edge of the coin.

In a correctly minted coin, the motto “In God We Trust” appears to be merely scratches on the edge, that is, unless one looks for it with a magnifying glass.

Richard Thompson, President and Chief Counsel of the Law Center, tested the new coin and found that 9 out of 10 people could not find the National Motto, even when asked to look for it. Thompson again encouraged Americans not to use the coin. “It is astounding that Congress has effectively done what atheist litigants have been unsuccessfully trying to do for years — erase all reference to God from our money,” said Thompson.

Said Thompson, “The past Presidents pictured on these coins would be insulted by the decision of Congress to remove the motto by making it almost invisible. I find it remarkable that the Mint said it made a mistake in not printing the national motto anywhere on thousands of these Presidential Coins. But even when they are not making this mistake, the Mint is still printing 300,000,000 coins where it is almost impossible to read the national motto on the slim edge of the coins.”

The Treasury Departments previous two attempts at issuing dollar coins were disastrous. Despite the government’s fanfare, the public hated both coins, and 97 percent of them are no longer in circulation. 74 percent of Americans cannot remember the last time that they used a dollar coin.