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ACLU's Alter Ego Invites God Into Courtroom

Center scores wins for religious right with free speech arguments

By Jonas Oransky,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 5, 2007 6:06 PM CDT
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(Newser) – A legal center that champions the Christian right is scoring victories and becoming “a very, very significant player in constitutional law,” one analyst says. The American Center for Law and Justice has made waves in the legal world by defending prayer at high school football games and supporting a pharmacist who doesn’t want to sell the morning-after pill, the Chicago Tribune reports.

Founded by Pat Robertson in part to counter the ACLU, the center is winning religious arguments by turning them into cases for free speech. It’s captained by Jay Sekulow, a Jewish convert to Christianity who also advises Bush on picking judges. He claims not to worry about his power dwindling after the next election: "I'm already implementing the post-Bush strategy," he says with a smile.

WASHINGTON, DC -- Jay Sekulow, of the American Center for Law and Justice, speaks at a the press conference in front of the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday, April 28, 2004. The court heard oral argume
WASHINGTON, DC -- Jay Sekulow, of the American Center for Law and Justice, speaks at a the press conference in front of the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday, April 28, 2004. The court heard oral argume   (KRT Photos)
Pat Robertson, right, the founder of Christian Broadcasting Network and the chancellor of Regent University, talks to GOP Republican hopeful Mitt Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts, before Romney delivers the commencement address to the 2007 graduating class of Regent University in Virginia Beach, Va., Saturday, May 5, 2007. (AP...
Pat Robertson, right, the founder of Christian Broadcasting Network and the chancellor of Regent University, talks to GOP Republican hopeful Mitt Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts, before Romney...   (Associated Press)
Christian leader and televangelist Pat Robertson talks with members of the media before going into the funeral of the Rev. Jerry Falwell at Thomas Roads Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Va., May 22, 2007. (AP Photo/The Roanoke Times, Eric Brady)
Christian leader and televangelist Pat Robertson talks with members of the media before going into the funeral of the Rev. Jerry Falwell at Thomas Roads Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Va., May 22, 2007....   (Associated Press)
Pat Robertson, right, the founder of Christian Broadcasting Network and the chancellor of Regent University, talks to GOP Republican hopeful Mitt Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts, before Romney delivers the commencement address to the 2007 graduating class of Regent University in Virginia Beach, Va., Saturday, May 5, 2007. (AP...
Pat Robertson, right, the founder of Christian Broadcasting Network and the chancellor of Regent University, talks to GOP Republican hopeful Mitt Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts, before Romney...   (Associated Press)
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religious right • John Roberts • Pat Robertson • religion • ACLU • Plan B • Jay Sekulow • Christian right

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