President Trump wants to define transgender out of existence, but we cannot let him define us.

By:  Ken Jensen On October 24, 2018, President Trump stated his administration was “seriously” considering changing the way it treats transgender people under the law.  Given his history of statements which never come to fruition, one could dismiss it. The effort this administration to negate any effort to define gender identity in any manner besides … Continue reading President Trump wants to define transgender out of existence, but we cannot let him define us.

California Ends Cash Money Bail System: Ends a Pay-to-Play System of Justice

By: Robert Bryson In the United States, bail refers to a system wherein a suspect is conditionally released from custody upon the surrender of payment of money or pledge of property to the court. The funds are then refunded when the suspect returns to court for their trial. If the suspect fails to return, the … Continue reading California Ends Cash Money Bail System: Ends a Pay-to-Play System of Justice

Supreme Court Promotes a Double Standard for Religious Animus: Muslims to Christians

By:  Ridgeway Woulfe Last week, we explored the double standard the Supreme Court created by its Masterpiece Cake and its decision to uphold Trump’s nation-based immigration ban (apparently not a Muslim ban, as he routinely stated).  In Masterpiece Cake, the Supreme Court held that a Commission’s animus toward a Christian baker was enough to find … Continue reading Supreme Court Promotes a Double Standard for Religious Animus: Muslims to Christians

PIAC’s Supreme Court Review: Masterpiece Cake, Ltd. v. Colorado Civil Rights Comm’n.

By: Ken Jensen After reading the Court’s opinion in Masterpiece Cakeshop, Ltd. v. Colorado Civil Rights Comm'n, 138 S. Ct. 1719 (2018), I am struck with how our society is still confused with respect to sexual orientation.  The Court struck down the Colorado Civil Rights Commission’s actions to assess a cakeshop owner’s reasons for declining … Continue reading PIAC’s Supreme Court Review: Masterpiece Cake, Ltd. v. Colorado Civil Rights Comm’n.

Counterpoint: Jerry Brown Denies Parole to Leslie Van Houten, Charles Manson Follower and Convicted Murder Shows Some Crimes Cannot Be Redeemed and Not Everyone is Eligible for Parole

By:  Robert Bryson Perhaps one of the biggest misconceptions surrounding California policies is that it is always progressive, it is always a leader, an example for the rest of the country and the world. But, that simply isn’t true. California is as much the founder of voluntary workers’ compensation in the United States as it … Continue reading Counterpoint: Jerry Brown Denies Parole to Leslie Van Houten, Charles Manson Follower and Convicted Murder Shows Some Crimes Cannot Be Redeemed and Not Everyone is Eligible for Parole

Point: Governor Jerry Brown’s Denial of Parole to Leslie Van Houten, Charles Manson Follower and Convicted Murderer, Shows the Limits California’s Progressive Approach to Criminal Justice

By:  Ridgeway Woulfe On January 19, 2018, California Governor Jerry Brown denied parole to 68-year-old Leslie Van Houten, marking the second time he has done so despite the state’s parole panel recommending release both times.  Van Houten has been, and now continues to serve a life sentence for murders she committed when she was 19 … Continue reading Point: Governor Jerry Brown’s Denial of Parole to Leslie Van Houten, Charles Manson Follower and Convicted Murderer, Shows the Limits California’s Progressive Approach to Criminal Justice

San Diego’s 2nd Annual Women’s March: Hear Our Vote

By:  Jessica Colburn The second annual Women’s March took place in San Diego on Saturday, January 20, 2018. The overall theme of the march was “Hear Our Vote”. It was a happy accident that this march happened while I was in the midst of researching for my contribution to PIAC’s series on voter fraud, and … Continue reading San Diego’s 2nd Annual Women’s March: Hear Our Vote

Book Review: Nicholas Wolterstoff’s Justice: Rights and Wrongs

By:  Ken Jensen For those interested in developing a clearer understanding of underlying philosophical or even theological basis for justice work, philosopher Nicholas Wolterstorff’s work is engaging.  His thesis in Justice: Rights and Wrongs (Princeton University Press, 2010) and the follow-up Justice in Love (Eerdmans, 2015) is that justice is about inherent rights – the … Continue reading Book Review: Nicholas Wolterstoff’s Justice: Rights and Wrongs