What Will The Supreme Court Decide on Health Care?

Supreme Court: Health Care Mystery Unveiled

By ARIANE De VOGUE
Washington, D.C., June 28, 2012

Dressed in their black robes, the nine Supreme Court justices will emerge from behind regal red curtains this morning at 10 a.m. to solve one of Washington's biggest mysteries: the legal fate of the Affordable Care Act.


Until today, the Supreme Court justices and their clerks have kept their opinion in this case a secret, frustrating politicians and pundits who are confounded by a government branch that doesn't leak.


Even Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg made fun of the frenzy a couple of weeks ago in a speech: "At the Supreme Court, those who know don't talk and those who talk don't know," she said, quoting a news story. But then she set off a new flurry of speculation when she noted that some of the most controversial cases in the term had yet to be decided. "It is likely that the sharp disagreement rate will go up next week," she said.


She was stating the obvious--the most controversial cases of the term are often the last to be decided. But court watchers parsed every word she said trying to discern her mood. Was that a twinkle in her eye?


Today, the majestic courtroom will be filled with lawyers, congressmen, health care advocates and members of public interest groups. There will be no Blackberrys, smart phones, cameras or videos. Audio of the proceedings will only be released next fall at the start of the next term. Solicitor General Donald B. Verrilli Jr., who argued the case for the government, will more than likely be in the audience, as will some of the lawyers who represented the 26 states challenging the law.

Two benches will be reserved for some of the media, who will be armed only with pen and paper.


At precisely 10 a.m. Chief Justice John Roberts will announce the first of three cases expected to be released. (Besides health care, the court will render a decision on a real estate case as well as a case dealing with military honors.) The justice who wrote the opinion will begin reading a synopsis, and then if there is a dissent, that too might be read from the bench. It's expected that those two decisions will be read before the health care decision.


One floor down, the press room--with piped-in audio from the court--will overflow with court reporters and health care bloggers. As soon as a decision is announced, press officers in the room will hand out written copies of the case. Runners will be poised to race out as soon as they get a copy of the decision to network correspondents who will be wired up and ready to decipher the decision on live television. Even in the press room Blackberry and cellphone usage is restricted.


But what format will the health care decision take? Conceivably, the court could release four separate decisions. Remember, the Supreme Court dedicated over six hours of oral arguments to four distinct issues regarding the law. The first issue is whether a federal tax law bars a challenge to the mandate until after it goes into effect. The second is the individual mandate that requires almost every American to buy health insurance by 2014 or pay a penalty. If the court strikes down the mandate (the third issue argued), it will need to decide the fate of the rest of the 975-page law (fourth issue). It will also consider the law's expansion of Medicaid.


For the Complete Article and more Information, please Visit the Source:
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/supreme-court-health-care-mystery-unveiled/story?id=16660482#.T-w6a45j65Q

Whose Responsible After a Teen Misses Graduation Because of Mistaken Arrest?

Honor Roll Student misses graduation after police mistakenly arrest her

• Seventeen-year-old Tiarra Brown was focused on her future, but the excitement about graduation turned to fear when police came to her school and arrested her. 11 News reporter Barry Simms has the story.

  
  

Prosecutors said they dropped the case after realizing she was not involved in a crime. It appears to be a horrific case of mistaken identity, 11 News I-Team reporter Barry Simms said.

"She's been crying the whole time. She's terrified. She's never been through this environment before," mother Catia Brown said.

Worried about their daughter, Catia and Elvin Brown said they did everything they could to get her released.

A warrant charged Tiarra Brown with attempted murder, assault and reckless endangerment. She was held without bail after police arrested her Thursday during graduation practice at Casa Academy in Southwest Baltimore.

"That's not her profile. She's an honor roll student. She has scholarships going to college June 21. She did track and field. She worked all year to pay for her graduation, and she missed graduation for a misunderstanding," the girl's mother said.

The warrant was issued in connection with the May 6 stabbing of a woman outside the Half Mile Track nightclub on Frederick Avenue near Collins Avenue. It happened around 1:30 a.m.

According to a statement of charges, what appears to be the victim's daughter filled out a complaint and submitted it to a commissioner at the Patapsco Avenue Courthouse claiming that Brown stabbed her mother six times and threatened her as well.

The commissioner issued a warrant for her arrest, but to add to the confusion police said they had already charged a woman named Brittany Johnson with the stabbing when Brown was arrested at her high school during graduation practice.

"It was negligence on their side, and I think it's disgraceful to just pick a person out and charge them without investigating," Catia Brown said. "She's always in the house. She's too young to go to a club. She's never been to a club a day in her life."

Police and prosecutors now said the warrant was wrongfully issued by a court commissioner and that Tiarra Brown committed no crime.

Once they said they realized what happened, the investigating detective and the detective from the Warrant Apprehension Task Force went to the state's attorney seeking Brown's release.

She was released around 6 p.m. Monday into the custody of her elated parents (image of release to the right).

"This is the longest I've ever been away from (my parents)," the girl told 11 News after she was released. "I was real upset, but I prayed to God and read my Bible and knew the best thing for me was just to come home."

When she finally emerged from detention, Brown was so grateful to see her parents, she didn't express any bitterness about her ordeal, 11 News reporter Kerry Cavanaugh said.

"The officers were very nice. They checked on me and made sure I was eating and drinking and not so depressed and crying too much," Tiarra Brown said.

11 News went to the home of the person who filed the handwritten complaint that led to the warrant. No one answered. 

The family said police showed the stabbing victim and two witnesses Tiarra Brown's picture, and all of them said she was not involved.

Read more: http://www.wbaltv.com/news/maryland/baltimore-city/Student-misses-graduation-after-police-mistakenly-arrest-her/-/10131532/14510502/-/jy1816z/-/index.html#ixzz1x4L0saIY

Should School Arrest and Fine Parents for Children's Tardiness?

Purcellville woman arrested over kids’ tardiness in school

Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012 by Laura Peters

Loudoun County Public Schools are making headlines with their policy against excessive tardiness and absences after a Loudoun County mother was arrested and charged with three counts of contributing to the delinquency to a minor.
Maureen Blake, 42, of Purcellville, was served a warrant on Jan. 21, informing her to appear in court on Jan. 25. She was released on a $3,000 bond the same day.
Her children attend an unidentified western Loudoun school close to where the much-publicized Denicore family’s children attend and have been cited for excessive tardies.
Mark and Amy Denicore appeared in court on Feb. 6 after they were summoned for their daughter Sophie’s excessive tardies to school. The Denicore’s three children have been tardy 85 times since September, but have only missed less than three hours each of school.
Mark Denicore, a lawyer, said he could potentially lose his license to practice law if he loses the case and paying up to $3,000 in fines for his children’s tardiness. They will go to trial March 14.
“The warrants were obtained by a Loudoun County [Attendance Officer] via a magistrate on the afternoon of Jan. 19,” Liz Mills, public information officer for Loudoun County Sheriff’s office said. “The sheriff’s office didn’t initiate the arrest and we didn’t determine probable cause. That’s up to the school.”
The warrant was served by a Loudoun County Sheriff’s deputy and a Purcellville Police Officer.
According to Wayde Byard, Loudoun County Schools public information officer, Loudoun County Juvenile and Domestic Relation judges have asked the school system to report excessive absences or tardies to them. The judges’ have asked for the reports from the schools for a year. But, according to Byard, the school system tries to work out constant absence and tardy problems with the parents directly before taking the next step.
“This is not a position we want parents to be in,” Byard said.
The schools do everything in their power to help families who encounter difficulties in getting their children to school, Byard said. But if the family isn’t receptive, the schools need to take it to the next level.
“All we do is report to the court intake officer and from there it’s the legal system,” Byard said. “The judges ask to see all of the excessive absences of tardiness. We don’t issue summons, we don’t send out deputies. That’s up to the court to do that.”
Byard also said that in the beginning of each year, parents sign a Student Rights and Responsibilities packet that addresses their attendance policy.
Under the Students Rights and Responsibilities, after 15 or more consecutive absences or excessive tardies the Virginia Administrative Code requires the student be dropped from the attendance rolls. It’s then up to the principal to discipline the child.
If any student gets a minimum of five unexcused absences, a parent or guardian is required to provide the school with documentation from a licensed physician in regards to their absence.
According to the Student Rights and Responsibilities “a student is truant any time he or she willfully absents himself or herself from school or from any assigned class or activity. Excessive unexcused tardies may result in a truancy referral. Truancy is a serious offense that requires a stern correction action on the part of the school and the parents.”

Can California Ban Circumcision?

Why California Ban On Circumcision Affects Religious

Written by Faithful Forum on October 7, 2011 9:15 am

California’s governor has signed a bill that that will prevent local governments from banning male circumcision.

Gov. Jerry Brown’s office announced Sunday that the Democrat signed AB768, a bill written in response to a ballot measure proposed in San Francisco. Backers of a ban collected more than 7,700 signatures to put a measure on the November ballot in San Francisco to outlaw the circumcision of most male children. It was later blocked by a judge. They had argued that circumcision is an unnecessary surgery that can lead to sexual and health problems later in life. Those against the ban say it is an important religious practice for many Jews and Muslims, and that it can reduce the risk of cancer and sexually transmitted diseases.

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Male circumcision is the surgical removal of some or all of the foreskin (prepuce) from the penis.The word “circumcision” comes from Latin circum (meaning “around”) and cædere (meaning “to cut”). Early depictions of circumcision are found in cave paintings and Ancient Egyptian tombs, though some pictures are open to interpretation.[2][3][4] Religious male circumcision is considered a commandment from God in Judaism. In Islam, though not discussed in the Qur’an, male circumcision is widely practised and most often considered to be a sunnah. It is also customary in some Christian churches in Africa, including some Oriental Orthodox Churches.

Global estimates by the World Health Organization (WHO) suggest that 30% of males are circumcised, of whom 68% are Muslim. The prevalence of circumcision varies mostly with religious affiliation, and sometimes culture. Most circumcisions are performed during adolescence for cultural or religious reasons; in some countries they are more commonly performed during infancy. Circumcision is also used therapeutically, as one of the treatment options for balanitis xerotica obliterans, paraphimosis, balanitis, posthitis, balanoposthitis and urinary tract infections.

Circumcision reduces the risk of HIV infection in heterosexual populations that are at high risk. Evidence among heterosexual men in sub-Saharan Africa shows a decreased risk of between 38% and 66% over 2 years and in this population it appears cost effective.Evidence of benefit for women is controversial and evidence of benefit in developed countries and among men who have sex with men is yet to be determined.The WHO currently recommends circumcision as part of a comprehensive program for prevention of HIV transmission in areas with high endemic rates of HIV. Ethical concerns remain regarding the implementation of campaigns to promote circumcision. According to the Royal Dutch Medical Association (2010), no professional association of physicians currently recommends routine circumcision.Some bodies have discussed under what circumstances neonatal circumcision is ethical.

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Jewish law states that circumcision is a ‘mitzva aseh (“positive commandment” to perform an act) and is obligatory for Jewish-born males and for non-circumcised Jewish male converts. It is only postponed or abrogated in the case of threat to the life or health of the child.[80] It is usually performed by a mohel on the eighth day after birth in a ceremony called a Brit milah (or Bris milah, colloquially simply bris), which means “Covenant of circumcision” in Hebrew. It is considered of such importance that in some Orthodox communities the body of an uncircumcised Jewish male will sometimes be circumcised before burial.Although 19th century Reform leaders described it as “barbaric”, the practice of circumcision “remained a central rite”[193] and the Union for Reform Judaism has, since 1984, trained and certified over 300 practicing mohels under its “Berit Mila Program”.[194]Humanistic Judaism argues that “circumcision is not required for Jewish identity.”

In Islam, circumcision is mentioned in some hadith (it is referred as Khitan), but not in the Qur’an. Some Fiqh scholars state that circumcision is recommended (Sunnah); others that it is obligatory.Some have quoted the hadith to argue that the requirement of circumcision is based on the covenant with Abraham.While endorsing circumcision for males, Islamic scholars note that it is not a requirement for converting to Islam.

As Christians, Should We Support The Death Penalty?

Christianity and the Death Penalty

By: Tom Head, About.com Guide

Both supporters and opponents of capital punishment often claim that the Christian tradition is on their side--and, to a certain extent, both groups are right.

All government executions described in the New Testament claimed the lives of Christians or Jewish allies, most notably:

The beheading of John the Baptist (Mark 6:27) ;

The crucifixion of Jesus Christ (numerous references) ;

The stoning of St. Stephen (Acts 7:59)

Defenders of the death penalty point to Jesus' remarks in support of traditional Jewish law (Matthew 5:18) and the authority of earthly governments (Matthew 22:21).

Capital Punishment in Christian Theology

The earliest Christian writers spoke overwhelmingly against capital punishment. To name an especially prominent example, St. Clement of Rome, who led the church during the latter years of the first century as the Christian church's fourth pope, wrote that "to witness a man's execution, regardless of the justice of his prosecution, is forbidden by the moral law of Christ."

Today, the Roman Catholic Church and most global Protestant traditions oppose capital punishment, while most conservative U.S.-based Protestant traditions support it.

Also Consider the story below when leaving a comment. How easily could the justice system make a mistake and kill an innocent person? Many believe this to be the very case involving Troy Davis, scheduled for execution next week. 

Why It’s Worth The Effort To Save Troy Davis From Execution 

Written by Oretha Winston on September 16, 2011 11:45 am

Guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. It’s the foundation of our justice system, built to serve and protect the wrongly accused. But in the case of Troy Davis, it’s a principle that has been defied, ignored and trampled on. Davis has captured considerable attention because of the doubt raised over whether he killed Mark MacPhail in Savannah in 1989.

The U.S. Supreme Court even granted Davis a hearing to prove his innocence. It was the first time it had done so for a death row inmate in at least 50 years but he couldn’t convince a judge to grant him a new trial. The officer’s family believes there is no doubt that Davis killed MacPhail and prosecutors say the right man was convicted.

Troy’s execution is scheduled for next week, and there is simply too much doubt in his case for us to allow this to happen. On Monday, September 19th, Troy has his final hearing in front of the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles. They have the power to halt the scheduled execution and commute Troy’s sentence, permanently preventing what could be a wrongful execution.

It is now up to us to make sure the Board hears our voices loud and clear. Send a letter to the Board asking them to grant clemency for Troy Davis.

It is hard to fathom that our justice system would sentence a man to death when there is so much doubt.

Consider these items:

- Seven of the nine original witnesses in Troy’s case have recanted or changed their story;

- One eyewitness testified for the first time in 2010 that he saw his relative, not Davis, shoot Officer MacPhail

- At least 10 individuals have implicated the alternative suspect as the actual perpetrator.

William S. Sessions, a former FBI director under presidents Reagan and George H.W. Bush, argued in the Journal-Constitution on Thursday that “serious questions about Davis’ guilt” remained. The case, Sessions said, was “highlighted by witness recantations, allegations of police coercion and a lack of relevant physical evidence.”

This week, Amnesty International said it delivered more than 500,000 signatures to the state Board of Pardons and Paroles, which will hold a clemency hearing for Davis on Monday. Former President Carter and Archbishop Desmond Tutu are among those who have raised questions about his guilt. The Atlanta march is one of 300 rallies, vigils and other events organized worldwide by Amnesty International in what it is billing as a “Global Day of Amnesty for Troy Davis.”

Simply  put , pro lifers believe that every person is sacred, every life is precious – even the life of one who has violated or possibly violated the rights of others by taking a life. Human dignity is not qualified by what we do. It cannot be earned or forfeited. Human dignity is an irrevocable character of each and every person.

Should Security at Airports be Loosened for Children 12 and Under?

Security Restrictions At Airports Loosened For Children 12 And Younger

September 14, 2011 7:15 PM

BALTIMORE (WJZ)– Big changes at our nation’s airports where new security measures for children 12 years and younger are about to take effect.

Jessica Kartalija has more from travelers who say they’re on-board with the plan.

Homeland Security officials say we can expect these changes to take effect over the next few weeks.

A 6-year-old girl is patted down by a TSA agent, the agent is talking the girl through the security procedure. TSA says the agent acted appropriately, but the screening process is changing.

“We are moving to loosen restrictions on children under 12,” said Janet Napolitano, Secretary of Homeland Security.

Addressing Congress, Napolitano said children 12 years old and younger will no longer have to remove their shoes.

“Usually kids aren’t carrying bombs that I know of,” one traveler said. “So I think that’s a good idea.”

“I’m glad that, taking a child to the airport, I won’t have the hassle of having to take her shoes off, and putting them back on,” Jill Johnston, a mother from Raleigh, N.C., said.

Parents like Johnston say it will save her time and speed the security process for others.

“A big part of people flying anywhere is worrying about the security process, how long that might take,” another traveler said.

In addition to the children not having to remove their shoes when they go through security, there are alternatives to the child having to be patted down.

Children–like the 6-year-old on this home video– may be asked to go through metal detectors or walk through imaging machines multiple times.

“We teach our children not to let anyone touch you, we teach our children not to let any adults touch you,” Johnson said. “And then it’s supposed to be okay as soon as we go through an airport. That’s unacceptable.”

Homeland Security officials say there may be some exceptions to these rules. They say they want to keep these security checks unpredictable.

Secretary Napolitano says these security changes require additional training for all TSA officers.

http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2011/09/14/security-restrictions-at-airports-loosened-for-children-12-and-younger/

Is it too Easy to Acquire Life Insurance on others Without their Knowledge?

Take a look at the video clip below and tell us your thoughts. Recently the pastor involved with the murder-for-hire scheme was sentenced to life plus 100 years in prison. His role included taking out several insurance policies on the victim, without his knowledge, and orchestrating the murder of this legally blind and mentally challenged man. How was it that he was able to take out these insurance policies on the Internet which totaled 1.5 million dollars in the event of his death? The pastor even admitted, during his testimony, that he acquired policies on several other people as well. He testified that he later canceled them because he and those people started getting along again. Is it too easy to acquire life insurance on others?

Former Pastor Testifies In Murder-For-Hire Trial

Should Christians Participate in Post Mortem Gamete Retrieval?

Take a look at the article posted below and tell us your thoughts on Post Mortem Gamete Retrieval. What is it you may ask? It's the extraction of eggs or sperm from a dead person, with the intent to fertilize and bear children. This is a very controversial issue. Should we harvest these eggs and sperm from dead relatives? Should we have their consent? Is this moral or not? The article below tells the story of an Israeli teen who died in a car accident. Her parents we granted the right to harvest her eggs in order to have grandchildren some day. Be sure to leave a comment.

ISRAEL APPROVES FIRST-EVER EXTRACTION AND FREEZING OF DEAD TEEN’S EGGS

Posted on August 10, 2011 at 6:48am by  Liz Klimas

For the first time the Israeli court has approved the extraction and freezing of a dead woman’s eggs, a ruling that The Telegram reports is the first time in the world the door has been opened for a mother to give birth after her death.

The case centers around 17-year-old Israeli woman. Chen Aida Ayash. She was hit by a car in a tragic accident a couple weeks ago and died after struggling for 10 days. At the time, her  family donated all of her organs, but they wanted to keep one thing: her eggs. Why? To eventually make children.

The family originally requested the eggs be fertilized and frozen as embryos (frozen embryos have a greater chance of producing a child), a medical source familiar with the case told Ha’aretz, but were denied this request. Even though eggs were extracted and frozen, it was reported the family later abandoned the idea of having them fertilized.

Still, this ruling opens the door for a mother to give birth after her death. But if Ayash’s family had moved forward with a request to fertilize the eggs, according to Israeli law that requires implied consent of the deceased, they would have needed evidence of Ayash’s desire to be a mother.The Guardian reports:

 

According to Irit Rosenblum, a lawyer who founded New Family, an Israeli organisation that promotes family rights, the key issue is consent. “We don’t know if [Ayash] was concerned about continuation,” she said adding that even though the girl was only 17, she may have expressed a desire to bear children. “If [the family] can prove the fact that she wanted children, I see no reason why not to allow this.”

The Guardian goes on to note other times when parents have Israeli families have been allowed to extract sperm from deceased sons:

In 2007, the Israeli parents of a deceased soldier won a legal battle to be allowed to use his sperm, which was extracted post mortem, to create a child with an identified surrogate mother. Earlier this year, another Israeli family embarked on a legal battle to be allowed to use their dead son’s sperm to produce a grandchild, although they had no surrogate standing by.

Although not many countries have laws  for post-mortem gamete harvesting, according to The Telegraph, it has been more common for men to have sperm extracted after death. The US does not have any specific laws about sperm extraction after death, although disposition laws after death of already extracted sperm, eggs or embryos do exist and vary by state.

The Telegraph goes on to say that a dozen or so cases of sperm retrieval has been conducted from corpses in the US but also references an instance in 2010 where judges and doctors did not allow eggs to be extracted from from a woman killed by a heart attack.

Should Christians Sue to Save Immigrants?

Take a look at the article below that describes, in detail, an Alabama law to reform immigration rights. Christian based churches have united to sue the state for the right to welcome, house, and give Holy Communion to all people including illegal immigrants. This law, taking affect Sept. 1, 2011, will prohibit what some say is God's Commandment to Love on all His children. Leave a comment and tell us your thoughts... Should Christians sue the state of Alabama to save the rights of illegal immigrants?

Christian Leaders: Alabama Immigration Law Keeps Believers From Practicing Faith

By Nicola Menzie | Christian Post Contributor

Alabama Christian leaders have filed a lawsuit this week to stop the state from enacting the “nation’s most merciless” anti-immigration law, claiming it would prohibit Christians from living out their faith and the mandates of Scripture. Plaintiffs in the suit filed Monday include leaders of the Episcopalian, Methodist and Roman Catholic churches in Alabama, who represent 338,000 of the state’s faithful.

The ecumenical group insists the new immigration law, effective September 1, could ensnare Christian leaders who unknowingly administer religious sacraments, such as Holy Communion, to illegal immigrants.

In addition to Christian worship being adversely affected by the law, the plaintiffs express concern that Christians would be impeded from following “God’s mandate that the faithful are humbly bound to welcome and care for all people.”

The law, entitled the Beason-Hammon Alabama Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act, targets residents who do not have proof of legal residency or alien registration in the U.S. Without documents verifying their legal status, it would be illegal for such persons to live or work in Alabama. In addition, it would be a crime for anyone to transport, conceal, harbor or shield an illegal immigrant.

“If enforced, Alabama's Anti-Immigration Law will make it a crime to follow God's command to be Good Samaritans,” the lawsuit states. Christian leaders are not the only ones who think Alabama’s immigration law simply goes too far.

The legislation, signed June 9 by Gov. Robert Bentley, has also been challenged by the Justice Department.

In its lawsuit also filed Monday, the Justice Department portrays the law as far-reaching.

The law is "designed to affect virtually every aspect of an unauthorized immigrant's daily life, from employment to housing to transportation to entering into and enforcing contracts to going to school," the DOJ stated.

Justice Department officials express concern that U.S. residents, tourists, and others with legal status might be harassed or wrongfully detained under enforcement of the law.

In another suit filed against the Alabama law last week by several groups, including the SouthernPoverty Law Center and the American Civil Liberties Union.

Mike Hubbard, the speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives, said the law would be enacted despite the legal challenges.

Hubbard admitted that if changes needed to be made, lawmakers would do so.

“But Alabama is not going to be a sanctuary state for illegal immigrants,” he said in a statement. “Alabama will have a strict immigration law and we will enforce it."

An estimated 120,000 unauthorized immigrants lived in Alabama in 2009 and 2010, according to the Washington-based Pew Hispanic Center.

According to local media reports, undocumented immigrants living in Alabama have been preparing to leave the state in case the numerous legal challenges fail to keep the law from being enacted.

Plaintiffs in the lawsuit filed by the Christian community are: the Rt. Rev. Henry N. Parsley Jr., bishop of the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Alabama; Rev. William H. Willimon, bishop of the North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church; and the Most Rev. Thomas J. Rodi, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Mobile; and the Most Rev. Robert J. Baker, Roman Catholic Bishop of Birmingham.

Archbishop Rodi issued a statement on the Mobile archdiocese’s website Monday, saying the anti-immigration law “attacks our very understanding of what it means to be a Christian.”

He stated, “Throughout our history we have been a nation of immigrants. The words of Moses to the Hebrew people should resonate in our own hearts: ‘You shall not oppress or afflict the alien among you, for you were once aliens residing in the land of Egypt.’ (Exodus 22:20) As citizens we have the right to live our Christian faith. As Christians, we have an obligation to do so.”

Alabama is the latest among a handful of other states that have passed laws similar to Arizona’s immigration law, which was blocked by a challenge from the Justice Department last summer. These states have also attracted lawsuits from civil rights groups.

http://newyork.christianpost.com/news/christian-leaders-alabama-immigration-law-keeps-believers-from-practicing-faith-53216/

Should Black Student Sue her School to be the only Valedictorian?

Is this student being forced to share her status as valedictorian of her graduating class because she is African American? She believes the southern school is proposing this solution so that a Black valedictorian does not upset the community. If she has earned the higher grade point average, shouldn't she be solely awarded the honor regardless of race? Read the article below and tell us your thoughts.

Valedictorian sues school: Was she snubbed because of race?

A recent high school graduate from Arkansas is suing her school district, claiming it refused to recognize her as the school's sole valedictorian because she is black.

Kymberly Wimberly, 18, earned the highest grade point average in McGehee Secondary School's 2011 graduating class. She did so as a young mother, according to the complaint she submitted to the U.S. District Court for Arkansas' Eastern District. She was named the school's valedictorian and then later given co-valedictorian status with a white student who had lower grades, her complaint says.

Kymberly Wimberly

No legal response has been filed by lawyers for the school district or any other school or district representatives, according to court officials. Superintendent Thomas Gathen said he has yet to be served with any sort of court documents. Because of this, Gathen said he was unable to comment on several individual issues brought up in Wimberly's complaint.

"The issue that someone’s trying to paint is that this was a racially motivated," Gathen told CNN. "That wasn’t an issue with (the co-valedictorians). This is strictly an academic issue and a policy issue, not a racial issue."

Wimberly is seeking punitive damages of $75,000 and recognition as the sole valedictorian of her class. Wimberly's complaint also argues the McGehee school district, in southeastern Arkansas not too far from the Mississippi River, habitually withheld access to challenging classes from black students.

Wimberly said students were told at a schoolwide assembly that advance placement classes were very rigorous and that only those who really thought they would thrive with intense workloads should elect to take them. Then, individual students were taken aside and told that the classes really weren’t all that bad, she told CNN. The overwhelming majority of those students were white, she said, adding that she was the only black student in her AP literature class and one of two in calculus.

“Black students are meant to stay in regular course levels and mostly play sports,” Wimberly said. “That’s what were good at that that’s what we should stick to - that’s the mentality of McGehee.”

Wimberly said she had one teacher, for AP biology, who encouraged all students to take the class. Its racial makeup was half black, half white, and was more reflective of McGehee's student population, which is 46% black.

The case has been gaining increasing attention since Courthouse News Service reported on it Monday.

According to the complaint, Wimberly's mother, Molly Bratton, works as the McGehee district's media specialist. On May 10, Bratton learned from the school's counselor that her daughter had earned the top grade point average in her class. After sharing the exciting news with her daughter, she overheard someone in the school's copy room saying the accolade would cause "a big mess," according to the complaint.

Later that day, the complaint says, Bratton confirmed her daughter's status with Superintendent Gathen.

Then things began to unravel, according to Wimberly.

The next day, the school's principal, Darrell Thompson, told Bratton that he had decided to appoint another student, who was white, as a co-valedictorian. CNN was unable to reach Thompson for comment.

The complaint says Thompson attributed the decision to something in the student handbook, though the complaint says he did not list a specific policy.

In regards to recognition of a valedictorian, the McGehee handbook says that "students must be continuously enrolled at McGehee High School the last two semesters without transferring during this time to be considered in class ranking or eligible for valedictorian or salutatorian status."

The handbook says students will be given the same class rank only if their grades are the same, but in deciding class rank, students with lower GPAs who are taking more or harder classes will not be penalized. Gathen said the Wimberly's co-valedictorian had half a credit more than Wimberly and the difference in the students' GPAs was .03 or .05. Gathen said the outcome would have been the same were the situations reversed.

"I would have made the same decision," he said. "I was the one who made the ultimate decision."

Wimberly said she knew of students sharing the valedictorian position in the past, but only if their GPAs were the same, “down to the very last decimal point.”

When she found out that her daughter would have a co-valedictorian, Bratton called Gathen, who told her he had OK'd Thompson's decision, court documents state. The school's counselor had already sent out a news release to the local community about Wimberly's achievement, but the school then sent out an additional one about the co-valedictorian.

Bratton sought to bring up the issue at a school board meeting but was told by Gathen that it would have to wait for a meeting after the school's graduation ceremony because of an error in the form she filled out, according to the documents.

In addition to these details of the case, the complaint also claims that the district places more emphasis on challenging its white students than its black ones.

"African-American students were not encouraged to take Honors or Advanced Placement classes," the complaint says. "Caucasian students had to almost opt out (of advanced classes)."

Wimberly said she was lucky in that she had parents who would support her academic pursuits, even if many of her teachers would not.

“(Other students’) parents aren’t as active as mine,” Wimberly said. “Think about children who don’t have parents who are active in the school."