Legal

American Atheists Leads Interfaith Groups in Expressing Concern Over Gorsuch Nomination

In a letter written by American Atheists and the National Council of Jewish Women, a coalition of 19 faith-based and atheist groups expressed serious concerns regarding the nomination of Judge Neil M. Gorsuch to the United States Supreme Court. The letter was sent to the Chairman and Ranking Member of…...

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Atheists Express ‘Grave Concerns’ About Trump’s Supreme Court Pick

President Donald Trump has nominated Judge Neil Gorsuch to the United States Supreme Court. Judge Gorsuch currently serves on the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. Gorsuch would fill the seat that has been empty for nearly a year after the death of Justice Antonin Scalia....

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Atheists Dismiss Lawsuit After City Rescinds $65,000 Grant to Baptists

Cranford, NJ—American Atheists announced today that is has dismissed its lawsuit against the City of Kansas City (Missouri) over a $65,000 grant that the city’s Neighborhoods Tourist Development Fund had awarded in April to Modest Miles Ministries for the 2016 National Baptist Convention in September. American Atheists sued based on…...

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Atheists Sue PA House of Representatives Over Discriminatory Invocation Policy

Harrisburg, PA—American Atheists joined with Americans United for Separation of Church and State in filing a federal lawsuit today challenging a policy prohibiting atheists from offering invocations to open Pennsylvania House of Representatives sessions. The five individual plaintiffs in the case, including two members of Pennsylvania Nonbelievers, an American Atheists…...

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Atheists Reach $41,000 Settlement with Tennessee County Sheriff

Chattanooga, TN—American Atheists and Bradley County and the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office have reached a settlement in a federal lawsuit alleging First Amendment violations of the U.S. Constitution by Bradley County and Bradley County Sheriff Eric Watson. As part of settlement agreement, the new official Bradley County Sheriff’s Department Facebook…...

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Atheists Sue Kansas City Over $65,000 Handout to Baptist Convention

Cranford, NJ—Today American Atheists and two Kansas City residents filed a complaint in federal court asking for a temporary and permanent injunction to prevent the City of Kansas City from giving $65,000 to Modest Miles Ministries, Inc. (Rev. Miles is shown above) for the National Baptist Convention to be held…...

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New Plaintiff Joins Lawsuit Against TN Sheriff

Bradley County, TN—American Atheists today filed an amended complaint in the lawsuit challenging the unconstitutional actions of Bradley County Sheriff Eric Watson, adding resident Joseph Stephens as a plaintiff in the case. American Atheists and an anonymous Bradley County resident, referred to in court documents as “Jane Doe” because she…...

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Atheists’ Lawsuit Against TN Sheriff Moves Toward Trial

Knoxville, TN—During a hearing today in U.S. District Court of Eastern Tennessee, Senior District Court Judge Thomas Phillips asked the lawyer for Bradley County Sheriff Eric Watson to explain how the sheriff appearing in uniform and espousing his religious beliefs didn’t represent the county....

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