CURRENT SLF NEWS  View all

4/22/2008 SLF SUPPORTS OPEN JUDICIAL ELECTIONS: NEW MOVE TO CURB ELECTION ACTIVITIES SLF's Shannon Goessling argues that legislative efforts to limit campaign speech and participation by political groups in judicial elections run the risk of violating the U.S. Constitution - and the threat is real, because it's been done before - see inside for more - Full Text

4/9/2008 LINK TO VIDEOS- JOEY VENTO AND SLF TELL CITY OF PHILADELPHIA: CHANGE UNCONSTITUTIONAL LAW OR FACE COURT CHALLENGE SLF's Shannon Goessling joins Philadelphia's Joey Vento, owner of Geno's Steaks, who was charged with discrimination by the City and vindicated in March, in demanding that the City rewrite its unconstitutional law in order to "protect all Philadelphians from the strong arm of arbitrary government power against free speech." See inside for link to video - Full Text

3/19/2008 JOEY VENTO, FREE SPEECH VINDICATED! NATIONALLY PROFILED CASE - Joey Vento, the owner of Philadelphia landmark Geno's Steaks, wins case pursued by Commission on Human Relations, who charged him with discrimination for his sign, which reads, "This is America: When ordering, please speak English." See more inside - Full Text

2/19/2008 WHY 'OFFICIAL ENGLISH' MATTERS As SLF provides legislative testimony in Georgia, the stakes are high - as 30 states have approved 'official English' constitutional amendments and statutes affirming that English is the common language of the United States, particularly for government purposes like driver's license exams and other key functions. See inside for more - Full Text

12/14/2007 COUNTY PROPOSAL ON LOW-WATER FIXTURES LIKELY ILLEGAL In the midst of a water crisis in metro Atlanta, one county has taken a drastic step, mandating low-flush toilets and showers at taxpayer expense - despite state efforts to offer tax credits. See inside for more - Full Text

12/10/2007 DECEMBER 14 - PHILADELPHIA CASE AGAINST FREE SPEECH ICON JOEY VENTO SLF attorneys, representing Philadelphian Joey Vento, owner of the landmark Geno's Steaks, are preparing to defend Mr. Vento as the City's Commission on Human Relations threatens to close his doors for placing a sticker in his window that states, "This is America: When ordering, please speak English." More inside... Full Text

10/25/2007 CITY ILLEGALLY CONFISCATED "FEES" - AND BUSINESSES FIGHT BACK - NEW SLF LAWSUIT SLF attorneys filed a class action lawsuit against the city of McDonough, Georgia, which illegally collected what it described as "impact fees" despite state law forbidding the way they did it - business and community leaders are fighting back - Full Text

10/22/2007 SLF APPEARS AT JUSTICE SANDRA DAY O'CONNOR PANEL ON JUDICIAL ELECTIONS SLF's Shannon Goessling appears on panel hosted by retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor on judicial elections and impartiality - and as the only conservative on the panel, advocates for open, fair, and vigorous elections under the law. More inside... Full Text

10/22/2007 ALABAMA SUPREME COURT RULES 5-4 IN FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND ENGLISH LANGUAGE CASE Despite state constitutional mandates declaring English the official and common language of Alabama government, the Alabama Supreme Court rules 5-4 in favor of multiple languages for driver's license exams..."the fight is not over," says SLF executive director... Full Text

6/19/2007 ALABAMA SUPREME COURT NEXT STOP FOR APPEAL ON DRIVER'S LICENSE EXAMS IN ENGLISH SLF attorneys prepare to argue on June 20 that the Alabama Constitution mandates driver's licenses exams in English, despite state policy offering exams in more than a dozen languages...see inside - Full Text

6/14/2007 ALABAMA SUPREME COURT TO HEAR ENGLISH LANGUAGE APPEAL, Driver's License Exams at Issue SLF attorneys prepare to argue before the Alabama Supreme Court to enforce an Alabama constitutional amendment requiring English as the common language of the state - including for purposes of administering driver's licenses - see inside for more - Full Text

6/13/2007 DRIVER'S LICENSE EXAMS - ALABAMA CONSTITUTION IN JEOPARDY - TIMELINE As SLF attorneys prepare to argue before the Alabama Supreme Court, the following timeline underscores the importance of Alabama's constitutional amendment declaring English the official language of the state - and just how wrong the State of Alabama is by now offering driver's license exams in multiple languages - see inside Full Text

2/7/2007 FIRST AMENDMENT UNDER THE GUN IN PHILADELPHIA: GENO'S STEAKS FIGHTS BACK South Philadelphia landmark, Geno's Steaks, is slapped with a discrimination case by the city's Commission on Human Relations. Why? Because patriotic owner Joey Vento placed a sign in his window reading, "This is America - when ordering, please speak English." Vento's free speech rights on this important issue are now under the gun of government power - and SLF is stepping up to help...see inside for more - Full Text

1/25/2007 SPECIAL REPORT: Georgia Court Reform - Key Issues to Empower the Courts and Voters Click here to see the 2007 report . . . Full Text

7/14/2006 JUDICIAL ELECTIONS AREN'T EXCLUSIVE TO TRIAL LAWYERS Leadership in the State Bar of Georgia, a quasi-governmental body, is attacking non-lawyer voters and activists interested in the upcoming Supreme Court election - even while the trial bar remains the top "special interest" money-giver - see inside - Full Text

7/12/2006 MARRIAGE AMENDMENT SAVED: HIGH COURT MAKES PRUDENT CHOICE The Georgia Supreme Court, following New York's similar decision, upholds the voter-approved marriage amendment protecting the legal status of marriage as the union of a man and a woman - see more inside - Full Text

11/18/2005 OFFICIAL ENGLISH - AL COURT TO HEAR ARGUMENTS ON DRIVER'S LICENSES Despite a state constitutional amendment mandating the use of English for all government services, Alabama Gov. Bob Riley insists that the state must continue to offer driver's license exams in multiple languages - and says the feds will cut the state's transportation money if he returns to the common-sense, public safety policy. See more inside - Full Text

11/7/2005 KELO COMES TO GA: CUT POWER OF EMINENT DOMAIN FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS SLF Trustee Harold Cunliffe, a developer, speaks out on the overreaching power of eminent domain for financial gain, pitting taxpayer and property owners against their governments. See inside why SLF is challenging GA's law in federal court - Full Text

10/12/2005 PROPERTY RIGHTS AT STAKE: KELO DECISION COMES TO GEORGIA AS STOCKBRIDGE SEIZES PRIVATE PROPERTY Even as lawmakers prepare to take action in early 2006, SLF attorneys file a federal constitutional challenge against the City of Stockbridge, GA, alleging due process violations as the city uses the power of eminent domain for financial gain - see inside for more - Full Text

8/23/2005 ACLU ATTACKS GOVERNMENT PRAYER: SLF VOLUNTEERS TO DEFEND PRAYER The ACLU, fresh from replenishing its coffers from taxpayer-funded settlements in cases challenging the Ten Commandments, attacks metro Atlanta county for sectarian-led prayer before meetings - SLF steps up to defend county - see inside - Full Text

7/21/2005 DESTIN'S LAND GRAB VIOLATES CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS - SLF FILES AMENDED COMPLAINT SLF turns up the legal heat in this critical property rights case - the City of Destin is attempting an unconstitutional land grab, and SLF is defending Save Our Beaches, a group of beachfront property owners, in one of the nation's most important property rights cases - Full Text

7/21/2005 BEACHFRONT PROPERTY OWNERS FIGHT BACK: HURRICANE BEACH RENOURISHMENT NOT AN EXCUSE TO TAKE PRIVATE PROPERTY SLF fights back in Florida, where the City of Destin is waging an all-out public relations campaign against private property owners who are defending their constitutional rights - Full Text

7/1/2005 TEN COMMANDMENTS: HISTORICAL DOCUMENT - CONSTITUTIONALLY PROTECTED SLF makes the case that, in light of two recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions, the Ten Commandments can be constitutionally displayed in public buildings - see inside - Full Text

6/15/2005 AL GOVERNOR TAKES OPPOSITE POSITION: DRIVER'S LICENSE EXAMS IN ENGLISH Alabama Gov. Bob Riley, as a congressman, said state policy for driver's license exams in English was "the single most important tool needed by our nation's immigrants" - but now says exactly the opposite - see inside - Full Text

6/2/2005 SLF TO ACLU: OBLITERATING RELIGION IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL A Kentucky judge who offered a defendant the option to attend worship services rather than jail is under fire by the ACLU. SLF attorneys say he's on solid constitutional ground - see inside - Full Text

5/25/2005 ALABAMA DRIVER'S LICENSES & STATE CONSTITUTION AT ODDS - THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN, GOV. RILEY! Alabama's policy of offering driver's license exams in multiple languages jeopardizes public safety, according to U.S. Labor Dept. officials. More importantly, the current policy violates Alabama's Constitution - and Gov. Bob Riley knows better. In 2000, he argued in the U.S. Supreme Court in favor of Alabama's "exclusively in English" policy - Full Text

5/17/2005 SLF CHALLENGES ALABAMA GOV.: ENFORCE OFFICIAL ENGLISH AMENDMENT SLF attorneys, along with our friends at ProEnglish, file lawsuit in Alabama against Gov. Bob Riley - who promised to enforce the Alabama Constitution and ensure that driver's license exams are administered exclusively in English - instead, state gives exams in 13 languages, jeopardizing public safety and violating the expressed will of the people - the next battlefront in the national effort for official language and states' rights - Full Text

5/17/2005 TIMELINE AND BACKGROUND: ALABAMA LAWSUIT ON DRIVER'S LICENSES Complete timeline and background on Alabama constitutional amendment 509, its implications for driver's license exams, and the failure to enforce state law - and the lawsuit filed on behalf of the people of Alabama - Full Text

3/18/2005 PHOTO ID REQUIREMENT FOR VOTING IS CONSTITUTIONAL In the wake of NAACP, Jesse Jackson, and Louis Farrakhan injecting racial politics into the Georgia legislative process, SLF makes the point that photo ID requirements for voters are constitutional, good policy, and reasonable - see inside for the full story - Full Text

2/16/2005 GEORGIA WINS! CIVIL JUSTICE REFORM A REALITY, DESPITE TRIAL LAWYERS Southeastern Legal Foundation, in collaboration with medical and business groups, leads way to successful legislative effort in Georgia - "fairness and transparency" versus the trial lawyer "jackpot" mindset - see inside - Full Text

2/9/2005 SLF TO ACLU: IF AMERICANS DIE, YOU'LL HAVE BLOOD ON YOUR HANDS SLF Executive Director, appearing on FOX News Channel's O'Reilly Factor, warns that ACLU attempts to publicly expose U.S. intelligence reports gathered from illegal combatants in Iraq and held at Guantanamo Bay may jeopardize American lives - Full Text

2/3/2005 ED MEESE, SLF TO GA. TRIAL LAWYERS: STOP LYING ABOUT RONALD REAGAN Former U.S. Attorney General Edwin Meese III, an SLF Trustee, blasts the GA Trial Lawyers' TV ad alleging that 'Ronald Reagan never proposed such a thing' as responsible civil justice reform - see inside Full Text

1/17/2005 JUSTICE REFORM IS VITAL TO STATE As appeared in Atlanta Business Chronicle, part two of a series on the critical need for civil justice and tort reform in Georgia - see inside - Full Text

1/14/2005 CIVIL JUSTICE SYSTEM NEEDS DOSE OF FAIRNESS As appeared in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, SLF makes the case that basic civil justice reforms are needed in GA. Full Text

1/13/2005 MAKING SENSE OF CIVIL JUSTICE REFORM: A BUSINESS PRIMER, PART I As appeared in the Atlanta Business Chronicle, SLF takes on the tough issues of civil justice and tort reform - even as the trial lawyers use "scorched earth" tactics - see inside for common sense reforms - Full Text

1/13/2005 GA'S CIVIL JUSTICE SYSTEM CRIES OUT FOR MODERATION Georgia's state motto, "Wisdom, Justice, and Moderation," has been lost in the civil justice system - see how SLF recommends restoring balance and predictability to the state's litigation system - Full Text

1/12/2005 UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA FOLDS UNDER LEGAL PRESSURE UGA's admissions gurus, faced with legal pressure from SLF, opt to hold off on promised race-based admissions... but recruitment efforts may trigger more concerns. See inside - Full Text

12/2/2004 UNIVERSITY ADMISSIONS: UGA TREADS DANGEROUS NEW GROUND Two years after a stinging rebuke by the federal courts for its illegal use of race as an admissions criteria, UGA is at it again - this time, with a recommendation from the Faculty Admissions Committee. SLF plans to "review" the program for potential legal action - Full Text

11/19/2004 ILLINOIS SUPREME COURT DEALS BLOW TO PREDATORY TRIAL LAWYERS Two lawsuits agains the gun manufacturers, one filed by the City of Chicago and Cook County, IL, were tossed by the state's high court in an important victory for tort reformers - see inside - Full Text

10/21/2004 MARRIAGE AMENDMENT SHOULD GO TO VOTERS Georgia voters, like their counterparts in Missouri and Louisiana, will overwhelmingly pass a constitutional amendment protecting traditional marriage - unless the court stops it. SLF argues that the voters have a right to vote - see inside for more - Full Text

9/28/2004 ACLU TRIES SCARE TACTICS TO STOP MARRIAGE AMENDMENT The ACLU and its allies, including Lambda Legal, are at it again - this time, to stop the Georgia constitutional amendment from reaching the voters. New SLF Executive Director, Shannon Goessling, points out that legal scare tactics cannot overcome the voice of the people - Full Text

9/14/2004 NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: SHANNON GOESSLING Former prosecutor and 2002 GOP nominee for Georgia Attorney General, Goessling takes the helm at Southeastern Legal Foundation, promising an aggressive agenda - see more inside - Full Text

8/18/2004 CONSERVATIVE ISSUES NOW MAINSTREAM The American people - not the elites - are speaking with a clear, honest voice about key issues once described (and derided) as "conservative" - see the national evidence inside - Full Text

7/19/2004 LIFTING BANS ON SPEECH OPENS NEW WORLD TO JUDICIAL CHALLENGERS SLF's Lynn Hogue discusses the controversial free speech of judicial candidates in light of a recent Supreme Court decision, and exposes potential dangers of unfettered issue speech - see inside - Full Text

6/22/2004 CLINTON TELLS TRUTH IN NEW BOOK: HE LIED UNDER OATH, LEADING TO IMPEACHMENT SLF, which successfully pursued Arkansas Bar sanctions leading to the disbarment of President Bill Clinton, says that Clinton's "discrepancy" about the Lewinsky affair is consistent with his admission resulting in disbarment - he lied under oath. See inside for the history - Full Text

6/7/2004 TRIBUTE TO PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN SLF honors the memory of President Ronald Reagan - his "first principles" of liberty shape our nation even as they restore the vision of the Founding Fathers - Full Text

5/26/2004 TORT REFORM BEGINS WITH ATTY ACCOUNTABILITY - BOB BARR FILES COMPLAINT IN KENTUCKY Former U.S. Rep. Bob Barr, a former president and current SLF Legal Advisory Board member, files complaint against a Kentucky attorney, alleging unreasonable fees - SLF's Tort & Civil Justice Project comments - Full Text

5/25/2004 MASS. SAME-SEX MARRIAGE SIGNALS STATE-BY-STATE COURT ATTACKS ON TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE LAWS Based on legal strategies laid out by gay activists, SLF predicts that the Mass. court decision allowing same-sex marriage will trigger multiple court challenges against state and federal law to compel recognition of same-sex marriage nationally - see more inside Full Text

4/8/2004 SLF TO HOST TORT REFORM SYMPOSIUM IN ATLANTA SLF gathers top corporate, legal and legislative leaders for a day-long panel to establish success-oriented goals for tort reform that work for all Americans - Full Text

3/24/2004 BOTH FEDERAL, STATE AMENDMENTS NEEDED TO PROTECT MARRIAGE SLF continues its years-long effort to protect traditional marriage and oppose special legal rights based on sexual orientation - see SLF's recent article on the need for both federal and state constitutional amendments to protect marriage - Full Text

3/23/2004 RACE-BASED UNIVERSITY ADMISSIONS: UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA MOVING AGAIN TOWARD UNCONSTITUTIONAL GROUND UGA's promised return to race-based college admissions brings costly legal and policy problems - SLF pushes for color-blind admissions - see inside for more - Full Text

3/17/2004 SLF SAYS TEN COMMANDMENTS LEGISLATION IS COMMON SENSE As the Georgia General Assembly moves the SLF-inspired legislation to a House floor vote, SLF points out that Ten Commandments bill is legally defensible and responsible - see more inside - Full Text

3/4/2004 SLF SAYS GA LEGISLATION MAY AVERT PROPERTY RIGHTS LAWSUIT AGAINST STATE As the Georgia General Assembly considers amending state stream buffer regulations, SLF reminds lawmakers that property rights are constitutionally protected - and cannot be infringed by regulations that deprive owners of value, use and enjoyment - see inside - Full Text

3/3/2004 TORT REFORM NEEDS CLARITY TO SUCCEED SLF makes the case that tort reformers must define terms in ways that make sense to American people - see inside - Full Text

3/3/2004 PROTECTING TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE - SLF CONGRESSIONAL TESTIMONY SLF submits testimony to the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on the Constitution regarding the impact of the Mass. court decision approving same-sex marriage - Full Text

2/24/2004 TESTIMONY: MARYLAND LEGISLATIVE BILL TO LIMIT ILLEGAL ALIEN ACCESS TO DRIVER'S LICENSES SLF submits testimony regarding the damaging legal impact of state-issued driver's licenses for illegal aliens - see inside for more - Full Text

2/19/2004 TEN COMMANDMENTS BILL RECOGNIZES RELIGIOUS VALUES' INFLUENCE Georgia State Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, working with SLF, introduces first-of-its-kind legislation - see inside why the so-called "Ten Commandments" bill is constitutional - Full Text

2/17/2004 TEN COMMANDMENTS LEGISLATION AFFIRMS AMERICAN RELIGIOUS HERITAGE Georgia lawmakers today introduce SLF-inspired blueprint for legally defensible display of the Ten Commandments in public buildings - see more inside - Full Text

2/16/2004 LAWMAKERS RUSH TO KILL INDUSTRY: Regulation is better answer SLF responds to the Georgia General Assembly's efforts to kill short-term loan industry - what is America all about, anyway? See inside for free market ideas - Full Text

2/16/2004 THE CASE FOR HONORING AMERICA'S RELIGIOUS HERITAGE Why a constitutionally defensible law will enable generations of Americans to know the influence of America's religious heritage on our laws - Full Text

1/16/2004 LATEST FLASHPOINT IN GAY CAMPAIGN FOR GOVERNMENT-ENFORCED ACCEPTANCE Prof. Lynn Hogue makes the case that the legal challenge against the Atlanta-area Druid Hills Country Club by gay activists is about a bigger agenda - Full Text

12/12/2003 FREEDOM OF SPEECH DISAPPEARS The U.S. Supreme Court gave Congress the power to squelch vigorous political debate - and that can only damage a free, democratic society - see more inside about the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act decision - Full Text

10/29/2003 POLITICAL ATTACKS ON JUDICIAL NOMINEES ENDANGER THE SYSTEM SLF's Lynn Hogue exposes the liberal attacks on President Bush's judicial nominees for what they are - shooting the messenger to harm the message - see inside for more Full Text

9/29/2003 EDUCATION MORE IMPORTANT THAN DIVERSITY In light of recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions acknowledging the racial diversity of public universities, does it makes sense to continue public-funded historically black universities? SLF says think again in an Atlanta Journal-Constitution editorial - Full Text

9/15/2003 CAMPAIGN "REFORM" AN UNFAIR GAG ORDER SLF General Counsel Valle Dutcher, who attended the U.S. Supreme Court oral arguments challenging the McCain-Feingold so-called campaign finance reform law, speaks out in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution... Full Text

9/8/2003 MARRIAGE AMENDMENT ABSOLUTELY THE RIGHT MOVE SLF's Lynn Hogue responds to critics - "amending the U.S. Constitution to protect traditional marriage is historically sound and legally necessary." See inside for more commentary, the second in a series dedicated to the SLF Marriage Amendment Project. Full Text

9/8/2003 McCAIN-FEINGOLD ARGUED IN U.S. SUPREME COURT The U.S. Supreme Court hears oral arguments on Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act. The omnibus case gets special hearing by high court - see inside for announcement. Full Text

8/13/2003 THE LEGAL CASE FOR MARRIAGE AMENDMENT Even as several states move toward legal recognition of gay marriage, SLF attorneys build case for "fencing off" traditional marriage with legal support for marriage amendment to the U.S. Constitution - see more inside - Full Text

8/5/2003 CLINTON LEGAL FEES' DECISION JUST MEDICINE The Arkansas-licensed attorney who filed the successful Bar complaint against former President Clinton speaks out - Full Text

7/16/2003 CLINTON DISBARMENT ATTORNEYS APPLAUD FEDERAL APPEALS COURT DECISION TO LIMIT CLINTON LEGAL FEES SLF's Lynn Hogue, the Arkansas-licensed attorney who filed the successful Bar complaint against former President Clinton, speaks out on court decision - Full Text

7/1/2003 2003 AFFIRMATIVE ACTION CASES - A WHITE PAPER Constitutional Law professor L. Lynn Hogue, SLF's Legal Advisory Board chairman, discusses the impact of the U.S. Supreme Court's 2003 affirmative action decisions .. Full Text

1/28/2003 GEORGIA'S UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE FUND "SOLVENT FOR THREE YEARS" WITHOUT HIKES SLF-inspired tax cut - the largest in Georgia history - is in jeopardy because some lawmakers fear lack of unemployment funds. SLF analysts say increasing taxes during recession is dead-wrong thing to do . . . Full Text

10/10/2002 NINTH CIRCUIT CONFLICTING OPINION ON CENSUS DATA HERE WE GO AGAIN - the integrity of the Census - and the use of the forbidden Clinton-era statistical sampling - is at issue. The wobbly Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals conflicts with its own opinions - see how SLF plans to stop the madness... Full Text

8/29/2002 SLF TO FEC: ELECTIONEERING RULES KILL FREE SPEECH Critical step toward protection of free speech from McCain-Feingold so-called "reform"...see inside for more... Full Text

4/22/2002 SLF APPLAUDS SENATE ACTION AGAINST AMNESTY U.S. Senate makes sense on illegal immigration, and SLF presses on with illegal alien voter research... Full Text

4/16/2002 SEN. McCONNELL LAWSUIT FILED SLF JOINS IN SUPPORT, LAUDS BROAD APPROACH Senator McConnell's lawsuit, crafted with top constitutional attorneys including SLF's Supreme Court-tested team, begins the free speech defense...see inside... Full Text

3/27/2002 McConnell v. Federal Elections Commission, Federal Communications Commission McConnell v. Federal Elections Commission, Federal Communications Commission, filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, March 27, 2002. Full Text

3/26/2002 SUPREME COURT TO HEAR CENSUS CASE -- CONGRESSIONAL SEAT AT STAKE As the high court hears arguments, the Census takes center stage as a cornerstone of representative government. See how SLF revisits its landmark legal work on this issue... Full Text