Posted on 06/27/2005 6:51:27 AM PDT by RobFromGa
RULINGS ON MONDAY?
A look at the remaining cases of the Supreme Court's term:
TEN COMMANDMENTS: The constitutionality of Ten Commandments in public buildings and on government property, under the First Amendment's ban on an ''establishment'' of religion.
FILE SHARING: Whether the entertainment industry may sue technology manufacturers over consumers who use their products to steal music and movies online.
INTERNET ACCESS: A test of the tight control cable companies hold over high-speed Internet service in a case that will determine whether the industry must open up its lines to competitors.
DEATH PENALTY: A look at courts' flexibility to reopen cases, in an appeal that asks if an appeals court was wrong to order more study of a Tennessee Death Row inmate's claims.
RESTRAINING ORDERS: Whether police can be sued for how they enforce restraining orders.
(Excerpt) Read more at suntimes.com ...
So we're into the 'thought crime' mode. Well, it's the same thing all those stupid hate-crime laws are based on.
The reports about the opinion seems to suggest they felt the display was religiously motivated and that didnot change when it was redisplayed in KC.
Better phrased is: Are they working? They are in recess more often than not....
No kidding.
I can't believe it since they seemed very sympathetic to the file sharing side at the time since they openly admitted *it can have legal uses.*
Yet, somehow they decided to rule against it anyway.
That is a flagrant move against Betamax, which said that even if technology could be used illegally, the people are responsible, NOT THE TECHNOLOGY.
They are turning that upside the head today.
Of all the rulings, this is probably the most dangerous.
Just truly appalling.
If a law is unconstitutional for having a "religious motivation", we'd better strike everything that follows "thou shalt not kill" and "thou shalt not steal".
They'll be working tomorrow when they fast track CAFTA!
I think SCOTUS is giving us the middle finger.
What is your source that they have ruled against TX yet? I only know about the ruling in KC and my source stated that another ruling on TX was still supposed to come today but it wasn't out yet. Thanks!
Was it O'Connor who betrayed us on the Ten Commandments? I want to know the breakdown.
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Monday declared Ten Commandments displays in two Kentucky courthouses unconstitutional.
The court ruled that in McCreary County v. ACLU (search) that the displays violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, which prohibits government from endorsing or supporting one religion above others.
The justices, split 5-4, ruled that the Ten Commandments could not be displayed in government buildings or property. However, the Biblical tablets could be displayed in an historical context, as they are in a frieze in the Supreme Court building.
"The touchstone for our analysis is the principle that the First Amendment mandates government neutrality between religion and religion, and between religion and nonreligion," Justice David H. Souter wrote for the majority.
Souter was joined in his opinion by other members of the liberal bloc — Justices John Paul Stevens, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen G. Breyer, as well as Reagan appointee Sandra Day O'Connor, who provided the swing vote.
The court also considered another Ten Commandments-related case, Van Orden v. Perry (search), involving a display on the grounds of a Texas courthouse. A ruling on that case was also expected Monday.
I'm reserving final judgment until I read the ruling, just in case they ruled against Grokster/Streamcast on some kind of technicality that doesn't much affect the big picture, but no matter what I am shocked at the ruling and even more so by its unanimity.
Justice Stevens is the most overlooked member of the USSC when it comes to discussion about being replaced.
He was nominated by Ford.
There is NO ruling yet on Texas.
Has anyone visited DU for their reactions?
Yep.
It's a sad, sad day.
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