Liberty Counsel
Encyclopedia
Liberty Counsel is a non-profit public interest
law firm
and ministry that provides free legal assistance in defense of "Christian religious liberty, the sanctity of human life, and the traditional family." Liberty Counsel is headed by attorney Mathew D. Staver, who founded the legal ministry with his wife, Anita, in 1989 and currently serves as its Chairman. Anita L. Staver, his wife, serves as President of Liberty Counsel. A close partnership exists between Liberty University
, which was founded by the Rev. Jerry Falwell
, and Liberty Counsel; Staver serves as Liberty University's law school Dean. In 2004, Liberty Counsel became affiliated with Liberty University/Falwell Ministries and Liberty Counsel opened an office at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia.
Liberty Counsel describes its practice as a First Amendment
practice, focused on religious liberties, freedom of speech, church/state issues in public schools and in the public square.
The LC supports the Don't Ask Don't Tell policy. The LC also opposes efforts to prohibit employment discrimination against gay workers. The LC further opposes 'the addition of "sexual orientation", "gender identity" or similar provisions' to hate crimes legislation. The Southern Poverty Law Center
lists the Liberty Counsel as being one of twelve groups comprising an "anti-gay crusade." The LC also devotes its time to fighting against same-sex marriage, civil unions, and adoption by homosexuals.
books, because "the certificate of witchcraft endorsed a particular religion".
In December 2005, Liberty Counsel issued a press release accusing an elementary school in Dodgeville, Wisconsin
of changing the lyrics of Christmas songs to make them more "secular" and said it would sue the school district "if the district does not immediately remedy the situation." In fact, the school was putting on the play "The Little Tree’s Christmas Gift," written by Dwight Elrich, a former church choir director. The Dodgeville school district attempted to seek a retraction and apology from Liberty Counsel, as well as reimbursement of $20,000 spent in personnel, security, and attorney fees to fight the accusation. Liberty Counsel's Staver refused, asserting, "There is nothing to apologize for or retract."
Public interest
The public interest refers to the "common well-being" or "general welfare." The public interest is central to policy debates, politics, democracy and the nature of government itself...
law firm
Law firm
A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise clients about their legal rights and responsibilities, and to represent clients in civil or criminal cases, business transactions, and other...
and ministry that provides free legal assistance in defense of "Christian religious liberty, the sanctity of human life, and the traditional family." Liberty Counsel is headed by attorney Mathew D. Staver, who founded the legal ministry with his wife, Anita, in 1989 and currently serves as its Chairman. Anita L. Staver, his wife, serves as President of Liberty Counsel. A close partnership exists between Liberty University
Liberty University
Liberty University is a private Christian university located in Lynchburg, Virginia. Liberty's annual enrollment is around 72,000 students, 12,000 of whom are residential students and 60,000+ studying through Liberty University Online...
, which was founded by the Rev. Jerry Falwell
Jerry Falwell
Jerry Lamon Falwell, Sr. was an evangelical fundamentalist Southern Baptist pastor, televangelist, and a conservative commentator from the United States. He was the founding pastor of the Thomas Road Baptist Church, a megachurch in Lynchburg, Virginia...
, and Liberty Counsel; Staver serves as Liberty University's law school Dean. In 2004, Liberty Counsel became affiliated with Liberty University/Falwell Ministries and Liberty Counsel opened an office at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia.
Liberty Counsel describes its practice as a First Amendment
First Amendment to the United States Constitution
The First Amendment to the United States Constitution is part of the Bill of Rights. The amendment prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering...
practice, focused on religious liberties, freedom of speech, church/state issues in public schools and in the public square.
Goals and positions
Liberty Counsel has established its goals revolving around influencing policy and providing courts with the legal rationale to develop precedent favorable to its mission. Although Liberty Counsel has said in the past that its central goal is to educate both its membership and public officials about its view on the role of religion in public life, it now states that its primary goal is to influence policy.The LC supports the Don't Ask Don't Tell policy. The LC also opposes efforts to prohibit employment discrimination against gay workers. The LC further opposes 'the addition of "sexual orientation", "gender identity" or similar provisions' to hate crimes legislation. The Southern Poverty Law Center
Southern Poverty Law Center
The Southern Poverty Law Center is an American nonprofit civil rights organization noted for its legal victories against white supremacist groups; legal representation for victims of hate groups; monitoring of alleged hate groups, militias and extremist organizations; and educational programs that...
lists the Liberty Counsel as being one of twelve groups comprising an "anti-gay crusade." The LC also devotes its time to fighting against same-sex marriage, civil unions, and adoption by homosexuals.
Programs
Liberty Counsel also provides information, research, and expertise to affect legislation and public policy at the local, state, and national level. In particular, Liberty Counsel operates the Liberty Center for Law and Policy, which monitors and drafts proposed legislation.Notable cases
- McCreary County v. ACLU of KentuckyMcCreary County v. ACLU of KentuckyMcCreary County v. ACLU of Kentucky, , is a case which was argued before the Supreme Court of the United States on March 2, 2005. At issue is whether government-sponsored displays of the Ten Commandments in county courthouses violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.In a suit...
defending a Ten CommandmentsTen CommandmentsThe Ten Commandments, also known as the Decalogue , are a set of biblical principles relating to ethics and worship, which play a fundamental role in Judaism and most forms of Christianity. They include instructions to worship only God and to keep the Sabbath, and prohibitions against idolatry,...
public monument. Liberty Counsel lost this case that challenged the legal test regarding religious displays used by the courts since the 1970s. Supreme Court Justice Antonin ScaliaAntonin ScaliaAntonin Gregory Scalia is an American jurist who serves as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. As the longest-serving justice on the Court, Scalia is the Senior Associate Justice...
delivered a dissent that challenged prevailing Supreme Court jurisprudence regarding the Establishment Clause of the constitution. - Wigg v. Sioux Falls School District 49-6 - the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that after school BibleBibleThe Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
study classes on campus after school hours does not violate the First Amendment's Establishment Clause, since it constitutes private free-speech. - Madsen v. Women's Health Ctr. - the United States Supreme Court defined the limits of injunctive relief available to abortion clinics against pickets and demonstrators. The Court established the Madsen Test for injunctive relief, which is permissible only upon showing that 1) the defendant has violated or imminently will violate some provision of law, 2) there is a discernable danger of recurrent violations, and 3) a following speech restrictive injunction may not burden speech more than necessary to serve a significant government interest.
Activities
In 2000, Liberty Counsel threatened legal action against a public library for awarding certificates involving Harry PotterHarry Potter
Harry Potter is a series of seven fantasy novels written by the British author J. K. Rowling. The books chronicle the adventures of the adolescent wizard Harry Potter and his best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, all of whom are students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry...
books, because "the certificate of witchcraft endorsed a particular religion".
In December 2005, Liberty Counsel issued a press release accusing an elementary school in Dodgeville, Wisconsin
Dodgeville, Wisconsin
Dodgeville is the most populous city and county seat of Iowa County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 4,698 at the 2010 census, making it the 9th largest city within the Madison metropolitan area. The Greater Dodgeville Area however had a population of 6,529...
of changing the lyrics of Christmas songs to make them more "secular" and said it would sue the school district "if the district does not immediately remedy the situation." In fact, the school was putting on the play "The Little Tree’s Christmas Gift," written by Dwight Elrich, a former church choir director. The Dodgeville school district attempted to seek a retraction and apology from Liberty Counsel, as well as reimbursement of $20,000 spent in personnel, security, and attorney fees to fight the accusation. Liberty Counsel's Staver refused, asserting, "There is nothing to apologize for or retract."
Publications
- Judicial Tyranny - The Faith & Freedom Series - ISBN 0-9662079-1-2
- Eternal Vigilance - Knowing and Protecting Your Religious Freedom - ISBN 0-8054-4000-3
- Same-Sex Marriage - Putting Every Household at Risk - ISBN 0-8054-3196-9