Dear John,
I’ve had a smile on my face ever since last week when the U.S. Supreme Court handed down multiple decisions upholding common sense laws across the country, making this a blockbuster term for children, families, and the rule of law. There are four decisions that especially impact the heart of our mission at True North Legal: working to protect and defend life, family, and religious freedom through education, policy, and in the courts. Below is a high-level analysis from our legal team at True North Legal with links to just some of the ways True North Legal has engaged in these significant issues both at the state and national level. We will have more in-depth analysis from our lawyers over the next month so stay tuned!
We’re able to bring you this analysis because of the generous support of friends like you who partner with us to defend these core values we share, that are foundational to the flourishing of families in Minnesota. Please help us continue the fight for these values (and give us all more reasons to smile!) with a generous contribution to True North Legal right now!
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First, FSC v. Paxton protects children from pornography. In this case the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a Texas law protecting children from the pornography industry by requiring age verification for adults accessing online pornography. As we explained in our amicus brief to U.S. Supreme Court in this case and in our op-ed in the STRIB, now that “the internet can now be carried around in one’s own pocket” every day, this easy access demands safeguards from the vile and graphic images that have destroyed innocent children and families. That’s why True North Legal and Minnesota Family Council are working with our allies across the country and the Minnesota legislature to end the victimization and exploitation of innocent children from the pornography industry.
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Next, Mahmoud v. Taylor is a major win for parental rights. In this case, the Court held Maryland parents have the right to opt-their children out of LGBTQ curriculum that goes against the families’ religious beliefs. This case is very similar to True North Legal’s case last year when True North Legal and First Liberty Institute represented six-Somali-American mothers who were denied opting-out of LGBTQ lessons being taught in class to their elementary age students. Click here to watch my interview with First Liberty Institute as well as the first-hand account from one of our clients, and here to read our op-ed in the STRIB. We celebrate this ruling as a significant victory for religious freedom and parental rights.The Court's decision reinforces the principle that public education must respect the religious convictions of American families.
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Medina v. Planned Parenthood is the most significant victory for the life movement since the Dobbs decision,which overturned Roe v. Wade. In this case, the U.S. Supreme Court held South Carolina cannot be forced to fund the abortion industry, specifically Planned Parenthood. As True North Legal’s Director of Litigation Doug Wardlow stated, “This ruling is a historic win for states, protecting their right to direct the Medicaid funding to those who provide real healthcare and not the abortion industry or the gender industry.” While the North Star State has seemingly lost its way, we won’t back down. Hearts and minds are changing because we continue to tell the truth about the abortion industry from the steps of the Supreme Court to the state legislature. Life is a human right and True North Legal will never stop working to protect the rights of innocent children and their mothers in public policy and the courts.
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Finally, in United States of America v. Skrmetti, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld Tennessee’s law protecting vulnerable children, unlike the legislation that I testified against which is now law in Minnesota, from the irreversible damage of experimental medicine, specifically experimental drugs and transition efforts for so-called “gender affirming care.” Thankfully, the law is catching up with reality–children struggling with gender distress should not be funneled into a one-size-fits-all “gender affirming approach,” subjecting them to life-long consequences like sterility and adverse psychological consequences, which at best, cannot ever be fully remedied by the long road of detransitioning. States like Tennessee and even other countries across the globe understand this. Skrmetti makes clear that Minnesota can and should join these states and countries by protecting kids from the devasting impact of experimental medicine on young people. Moreover, like you, we believe in God’s very good design distinctly manifested in the differences between men and women and we will continue to defend that truth in public policy and in the courts.
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It’s true that we live in an extremely progressive state, but these federal decisions are still extremely helpful and important. Here’s why: |
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First, we now have a clear understanding of the highest Court’s opinion regarding matters we care about most–like protecting children from the gender, abortion, and pornography industries; parental rights in education; and legislative authority to enact laws that protect the rights of all Minnesota’s citizens. These decisions inform the courts below, and those who challenge these laws, that their efforts to prevent enforcement of laws that protect children and families will not be successful in the courts.
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Second, these decisions are not only informative for litigation, but also for our work in public policy. Many of you know I spend a lot of time at the state Capitol working with state legislators alongside my colleague, MFC’s Director of Public Policy, Rebecca Delahunt. One of the most asked questions in meetings with legislators and while giving public testimony is: “has this law or something like it been upheld in the courts?” This is the case whether we are defending against a bad bill that has already been introduced, or drafting bills like HF 12, the Preserve Women’s Sports Bill, introduced this past session. We receive similar questions from school board members who contact True North Legal seeking legal guidance about how best to protect the rights of all students, parents, teachers, and staff, and even churches and pregnancy care centers concerned about threats that impede their ability live out their gospel-centric mission.
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And this is why I’m smiling.
These recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions upheld laws that reflect our values. So, rather than waiting to defend our rights, these decisions should compel us to take steps in Minnesota public policy and the courts to promote and protect these same values in our state. Values that are premised on rights that you and I hold dear, such as ensuring that every Minnesota life is cherished, the freedom to freely live out our faith, and to see families thrive. It will certainly take some creativity on our part in this state, but we’re culture-building, and we’re in it for the long haul. With your partnership, and the strength that God supplies, we can turn Minnesota around. Join us now with a generous contribution to True North Legal! |
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Renee Carlson, General Counsel True North Legal & Minnesota Family Council |
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Your tax-deductible gift to True North Legal, an initiative of Minnesota Family Institute, is integral to our work to defend and strengthen life, family, and religious freedom in Minnesota. True North Legal is an Initiative of Minnesota Family Institute. |
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