ACLJ Successfully Defends `Bible Week' in Arizona Town.Business Editors & Legal Writers PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 28, 2000 The American Center The American Center is a high-rise tower in Southfield, Michigan. It was built in 1975 and stands at 26 floors, with one basement floor, for a total of 27. The building's main use is that of a typical office tower. It also includes a parking garage and retail spaces. for Law and Justice, an international public interest law firm, announced today that a settlement agreement has been finalized in Gilbert, Arizona Gilbert is a town in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 191,517. [1] Although it is large and growing rapidly, Gilbert is still incorporated as a town rather than as a city; it has the highest that clears the way for the Mayor of Gilbert to continue to issue proclamations for "Bible Week." "We are pleased with the outcome of this case," said Walter M. Weber, Senior Litigation An action brought in court to enforce a particular right. The act or process of bringing a lawsuit in and of itself; a judicial contest; any dispute. When a person begins a civil lawsuit, the person enters into a process called litigation. Counsel of the ACLJ ACLJ American Center for Law and Justice ACLJ Appleseed Center for Law and Justice (Washington, DC) , which represented the Mayor in the case. "It has been our belief since the beginning that the Mayor acted properly in issuing a proclamation for `Bible Week' and we are confident that this agreement will ensure that her right to do so remains intact." In September 1999, a federal judge granted the ACLJ's motion to dismiss a lawsuit filed in November 1998 by the Arizona Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), nonpartisan organization devoted to the preservation and extension of the basic rights set forth in the U.S. Constitution. against Mayor Cynthia L. Dunham. However, the ACLU ACLU: see American Civil Liberties Union. asked the judge to reinstate the case and she did so in August 2000. The parties reached a settlement agreement in October under which the Mayor would be permitted to continue to issue proclamations for "Bible Week" and the ACLU would agree to drop its lawsuit. Pursuant to the agreement, U.S. District Judge Roslyn O. Silver dismissed the case on November 24th. The Mayor proclaimed November 19-26, 2000 "Bible Week" and the proclamation was made without incident. Weber said: "The proclamation for `Bible Week' merely shows a tradition of commemorating matters of importance to the life of the community. The proclamation follows the great tradition of previous proclamations commemorating Thanksgiving and the National Day of Prayer. These are simply time-honored traditions that are constitutionally protected." "Bible Week" is an annual event, nationwide in scope, observed during Thanksgiving week. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. a representative of the National Bible Association, which promotes the annual observance, hundreds of Mayors and dozens of Governors proclaim "Bible Week" each year. The American Center for Law and Justice is an international public interest law firm and educational organization that specializes in First Amendment law and focuses on pro-family, pro-life, and pro-liberty cases. The ACLJ Web site is www.aclj.org. |
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