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Articles by Jonathan Scruggs
How Gender Ideology Is Reshaping Our Schools And Health Care System
Exclusive Article — Opinion — As families shake out the last grains of sand from their kids’ shoes while their children bounce off the walls claiming to be “bored,” parents can now glimpse the upcoming joy of routine schedules, carpool lines, and after-school event coordination. It’s back-to-school time. Of course, parents aren’t the only ones gearing up for school. So are teachers and school administrators, many of whom will make an enormous difference for the kids they love and educate this year.
Cass Review: Children Deserve Better, Not Experimental Treatments
As a rising number of young people have begun to struggle with gender dysphoria, some doctors have pushed the idea that that the best way to help these children is to subject them to harmful, experimental, unnecessary, and often-irreversible procedures.
Flesh, Body, World: Michel Henry on Incarnation
Open AccessArticle by Department of Philosophy, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA 15282, USA Religions 2023, 14(9), 1109; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel14091109 (registering DOI) Received: 20 July 2023 / Revised: 15 August 2023 / Accepted: 18 August 2023 / Published: 28 August 2023 (This article belongs to the Special Issue Philosophy and Incarnation) 1.
Andrew Bailey, Rich McCormick, Jonathan Scruggs, Os Guiness
On today’s program: Andrew Bailey, Missouri Attorney General, shares about his legal win which blocks the Biden administration from violating the First Amendment rights of Americans. Rich McCormick, U.S. Representative for the 6th District of Georgia, unpacks the significance of the Biden administration’s long weekend news dump of the State Department’s assessment of the botched U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
The Supreme Court Chose Freedom Over Fear. Our Country Should, Too
More and more, we are faced with coercive pressure to accept certain views, especially on gender and sexuality. Decline to put preferred pronouns in your email signature? You're demoted at work. A neighbor posts online that men and women are different biologically? He loses his job. As these stories keep coming, the pressure keeps rising.
The Supreme Court Chose Freedom Over Fear. Our Country Should, Too
More and more, we are faced with coercive pressure to accept certain views, especially on gender and sexuality. Decline to put preferred pronouns in your email signature? You're demoted at work. A neighbor posts online that men and women are different biologically? He loses his job. As these stories keep coming, the pressure keeps rising.
Warren Davidson, Jonathan Scruggs, Garland Hunt, Doug LaMalfa, Meg Kilgannon
On today’s program: Warren Davidson, U.S. Representative for the 8th District of Ohio, reacts to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to strike down President Biden’s student loan bailout, talks about his bill to undo Biden’s socialist mortgage rule, and offers his reflections on Independence Day. Jonathan Scruggs, Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Counsel and Vice President of Litigation Strategy, highlights good news in a major free speech case.
Bates v. Pakseresht et al
April 3, 2023 Filing 4 Notice of Case Reassignment: This case has been reassigned from Magistrate Judge Andrew D. Hallman to Judge Adrienne Nelson. (cw) April 3, 2023 Filing 3 Summonses Issued Electronically as to Aprille Flint-Gerner, Cecilia Garcia, Rebecca Garrison, Fariborz Pakseresht, Liesl Wendt. NOTICE: Counsel shall print and serve the summonses and all documents issued by the Clerk at the time of filing upon all named parties in accordance with Local Rule 3-5.
There is no ‘horseshoes and hand grenades’ exception in the First Amendment and latest SCOTUS case proves it Original
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! On Dec. 5, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral argument in 303 Creative v Elenis, the case about Colorado graphic artist Lorie Smith. Lorie creates custom websites for clients of all backgrounds, including those who identify as LGBT. She just does not want to create custom websites celebrating same-sex marriage for anyone. The oral argument, much like the ensuing media debate, reflected two different ways to think about this case.
Opinion: Colorado’s defense in Supreme Court case underscores attack on free speech
As parents know, children caught with their hands in the cookie jar often highlight their guilt with their own defense. Sometimes that involves denials: The dog did it. Sometimes that involves excuses: My sibling said I could. But when called out, the guilty frequently flail to avoid accountability. In this sense, cookie defense and constitutional litigation can share common features. One such piece of litigation is 303 Creative v.
Supreme Court Could Echo Photographer’s Free Speech Victory Over Mandated LGBT Wedding Support
Ed. Note: The following piece originally appeared at Fox News. City officials in Louisville, Kentucky, needed a lesson in free speech and government overreach. Thankfully, a young mom with a small business there provided it, with an assist from the judiciary. It’s a lesson the U.S. Supreme Court will hopefully reiterate in just a few months to government officials nationwide. That Louisville mom is Chesley Nelson, an artist who started her own photography studio, Chelsey Nelson Photography.
Supreme Court could echo photographer’s free speech victory over mandated LGBT support Original
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! City officials in Louisville, Kentucky, needed a lesson in free speech and government overreach. Thankfully, a young mom with a small business there provided it, with an assist from the judiciary. It’s a lesson the U.S. Supreme Court will hopefully reiterate in just a few months to government officials nationwide. That Louisville mom is Chesley Nelson, an artist who started her own photography studio, Chelsey Nelson Photography.
Virginians Deserve Better Than Northam’s Idea of ‘Values’
Ralph Northam speaks during a campaign rally in Richmond, Virginia on Oct. 19, 2017. (Photo credit: JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images) Virginia is the home of more founding fathers than nearly any other state. Anyone who passed high school history or caught “Hamilton”on Disney+ should know that. But many may not know that Virginia was a trailblazer for promoting ideological diversity, particularly in the realm of religion.
Court victory for photographer who opposes same-sex weddings a win for free speech
Americans are fortunate to enjoy several inalienable rights, including the right to control what you say and what you celebrate. That’s at the core of the First Amendment. And on Aug. 14, a federal court protected this right for a creative professional in a ruling that will benefit all people of Louisville across the ideological spectrum. That ruling focused on Chelsey Nelson, a Louisville-based blogger and photographer.
Freedom back in business
Jonathan Scruggs, Center for Conscience Initiatives at Alliance Defending Freedom Published 5:08 p.m. CT March 13, 2020 “Freedom” is one of those words that looks different to different people. Some see it in a flag wafting gently on a breeze or a stadium full of people singing an anthem slightly off key. Others see it in protesting that flag and what it stands for. Recently, though, freedom has a new look — films created by two friends of mine, Carl and Angel Larsen.
A ruling for discrimination? No, Brush & Nib is good news for everyone
Jonathan Scruggs, opinion contributor Published 6:00 a.m. MT Sept. 24, 2019 Some issues we can work out without lawsuits, columnist Robert Robb says. Providing wedding invitations for LGBT couples is one of them. Brian Snyder, Arizona Republic Opinion: The Arizona Supreme Court rejected the idea that people who create speech for a living must speak a view the government prefers. On Sept. 16, the Arizona Supreme Court issued a much-needed decision in favor of freedom.
SCRUGGS: New Ann Arbor, Michigan Law Violates The First Amendment
Imagine an on-fire progressive named Amy decides to pursue her dreams and start a company that writes speeches for progressive politicians and non-profits. Her goal is simple: Use her talents to help promote the policies she believes in and lives by. But just three weeks after the company launch, a local politician asks her to write an Independence Day speech endorsing Donald Trump. What should she do? Easy answer, right. No way would Amy do that.
Opinion: Ann Arbor anti-discrimination law threatens freedom
Jonathan Scruggs Published 11:00 p.m. ET July 31, 2019 | Updated 11:00 p.m. ET July 31, 2019 Campaign season is quite tiresome. Political ads are everywhere. Frequent television debates. Social media outrage is non-stop. Division is everywhere. But this is democracy at work. Better to fight it out with words on Twitter than with clubs in the street. To be sure, we need more civility and tolerance in our political discourse.
Why Phoenix artists shouldn't be punished for their beliefs
On Jan. 22, I'll be asking the Arizona Supreme Court to protect the right of artists to speak messages consistent with their beliefs without having to face jail time or crippling fines. You may think this should be unnecessary. After all, the Arizona and U.S. constitutions both protect free speech and free religious exercise. So do many statutes too. At some point, you would hope bureaucrats would get the hint.
In 2019 will people of faith be able to speak with and serve their neighbors authentically? Watch these cases
President Reagan memorably challenged his listeners to remember that “freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.” If the Supreme Court’s 2018 decisions are an indication, both religious liberty and free speech live to see another day. In Masterpiece Cakeshop v.
The attorney respresenting Barronelle Stutzman and Arlene’s Flowers, says her refusal to make flowers for a same-sex wedding is about declining to create art that goes against her religious beliefs, not discrimination against a class of persons. | Tri-Cit
Though it dragged out in some parts of the nation, election season has finally wrapped up, and most of us are probably relieved. No more attack ads. No more candidate sign clutter. Winners are elated. Losers concede. Rinse, repeat in two years. But the irritation of election season sure beats the alternative. In other places, people settle disputes by throwing opponents in jail and confiscating their property, not by casting ballots and watching tacky TV ads.
Masterpiece Cakeshop: Supreme Court Should Uphold the First Amendment | National Review
“There’s nothing new beneath the sun,” King Solomon famously said — and very little new before the U.S. Supreme Court. Though every generation likes to believe it’s grappling with unprecedented legal challenges, the precedents are usually there, with history holding up its mirror to help us reflect on how those gone before came to grips with surprisingly similar threats to our national — and personal — convictions.
Google memos and pro-Trump cakes: When free speech values collide
From work memorandums to wedding cakes, our values and consistency are tested in some strange places. Not too long ago, most people agreed on certain values when it came to free speech: “I disagree with your message but tolerate your right to say it.” To be sure, that value created costs, but it seemed worthwhile to most. That consensus is now gone, at least in the corporate context. How this change affects culture more generally remains to be seen, but we may get an answer sooner than many expect.
East Lansing Bans Apple Farmer From Market For Being Faithful Catholic
East Lansing is so intolerant of Steve Tennes’s religious viewpoint that it is willing to monitor Steve’s Facebook posts and punish Steve for what he says and does outside of East Lansing. Imagine the following bizarre conversation after a New York City police officer pulled someone over on the way to Newark Airport. Officer: Well, I’m going to have to ticket you for that. New York City recently banned consumption of soft drinks larger than 16 ounces. Man: I’m sorry, officer.
Jonathan Scruggs: Why a Madison photographer is challenging laws regulating her artistic freedom
Whether it’s fashion designers who won’t dress the first lady or roommates who won’t share living space with Trump supporters, people have drawn the line. They won’t “normalize” things that lack moral legitimacy.
Lawsuit: Businesses have same right as people
The reason two filmmakers have sued to stop a Minnesota law that regulates artistic freedom is not only because of the important constitutional principle at stake. Choosing to exercise their First Amendment freedom also could cost them tens of thousands of dollars and up to 90 days in jail.
My Turn: Forced speech in un-American
Last time you texted a friend, why did you do it? Last time you admired a painting, what were you thinking about? Writers write words and artists create art to convey something — some idea, some message, some emotion. That’s just common sense. Until same-sex marriage enters the picture. At that point, for many in government, common sense goes out the window. Take a recent lawsuit by two Phoenix artists, Joanna Duka and Breanna Koski, and their art studio, Brush & Nib Studio.
Phoenix artists sue rather than create art for same sex weddings
Joanna Duka and Breanna Koski met at a Bible study for young adults, discovered they shared similar artistic and religious passions, and started Brush & Nib Studio together. Brush & Nib is an upscale hand-painting, hand-lettering and calligraphy company that creates and sells customized art, including for weddings. Brush & Nib reflects who Joanna and Breanna are and what they believe — only creating art consistent with their Christian beliefs.
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