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Simpson v. Chesterfield County

Supreme Court Brief Filed on Behalf of Hindu Americans in Public Prayer Case

June 17, 2008

Author: Staff Writer

Source: NRIPulse

http://www.nripulse.com/CityNews_FL_SC.html

Less than a year after becoming the first Hindu American group to file an amicus curiae (friend of the court) brief with the United States Supreme Court, the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) continued its legal campaign with another brief in support of a petition for writ of certiorari. The case, Simpson v. Chesterfield County, involves legislative prayer. While the HAF’s...

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Wiccan Priestess Loses Supreme Court Appeal Case

October 11, 2005

Source: The Washington Post

Wire Service: AP

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/11/AR2005101100637.html

On October 11, 2005 the Associated Press reported, "The Supreme Court rejected an appeal on Tuesday from a Wiccan priestess angry that local leaders would not let her open their sessions with a prayer. Instead, clergy from more traditional religions were invited to pray at...

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ACLU Backs Wiccan Priestess

August 10, 2005

Source: The Washington Times

Wire Service: AP

http://www.washtimes.com/metro/20050809-101320-1232r.htm

On August 10, 2005 the Associated Press reported, "Civil liberties lawyers have appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court to allow a Wiccan priestess to offer prayers before a public board's meetings. Cynthia Simpson was turned down in 2002 when she asked the Chesterfield Board of Supervisors to add her name to the list of people who...

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ACLU Files Petition with Simpson Over Invocation Case

April 29, 2005

Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch

On April 29, 2005 the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported, "the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia has filed a petition on behalf of Cynthia Simpson, a witch of the Wiccan faith, seeking to reverse a ruling that upheld Chesterfield County's decision to bar her from giving the invocation at Board of Supervisors meetings. In its petition yesterday to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, the ACLU said it has asked the full court to reverse a three-judge panel ruling that allowed government officials to discriminate on...

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Pagan Priestess Wins Federal Case

December 1, 2003

Source: Circle Magazine

On December 1, 2003 Circle Magazine reported that "Wiccan priestess Cynthia Simpson won her religious freedom battle in the federal court in Richmond. Virginia on November 13, 2003. The magistrate ruled that the Chesterfield County discriminated against Cyndi when it prohibited her from joining their list of clergy able to open their meeting with a prayer. As mentioned in the Spring 2003 LLL Report, Cyndi had been told that she could not be a prayer leader because she did not practice a religion "within the Judeo-Christian tradition...

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