Thomas More Society Attorneys File Motion for Temporary Restraining Order

Contact: Tom Ciesielka, TC Public Relations, 312-422-1333, tc@tcpr.net

JACKSONVILLE, N.C., Nov. 3, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- This week, attorneys from the Thomas More Society sought emergency injunctive relief in federal court against the city of Jacksonville, NC, in order to stop constitutionally-protected free speech violations against pro-life activists. Lead Plaintiff Dr. Bartolo Spano's suit was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina. A copy of the filing is available here.

The matter stems from Jacksonville's Chief of Police forbidding Spano and other pro-life advocates from praying and picketing outside the front entrance of the Crist Clinic for Women, a Jacksonville abortion facility. Thomas More Society's suit argues that the First Amendment protects these pro-life advocates' right to peacefully protest outside the Clinic. Further, Jacksonville police ordered that Dr. Spano and his fellow pro-life activists move out of sight of the entrance to the Crist Clinic to another unrelated business down the street in an arbitrary fashion, according to the suit.

"Jacksonville's ordinance restricts speech protected by our federal Constitution. In the United States, police officers don't have the right to arbitrarily make ad hoc decisions to prohibit an assembly in a public place," said Peter Breen, Thomas More Society's executive director and legal counsel. "It's outrageous for Jacksonville not to value the First Amendment rights of its citizens. We intend to vigorously fight this ordinance and the actions of Jacksonville's leadership and police to ensure that legitimate and legal free speech activities are protected."

Links to court documents available:

Memorandum in Support of Motion for Temporary Restraining Order and Preliminary Injunction.

Motion for Temporary Restraining Order and/or Preliminary Injunction.

Complaint for Injunctive Relief, Declaratory Relief, and Relief Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983.

About the Thomas More Society
Founded in 1997, the Thomas More Society is a public interest law firm. Based in Chicago, the Thomas More Society defends the sanctity of human life, the family and religious liberty in courtrooms across the country. The Society is a nonprofit organization wholly supported by private donations. For more information or to support the work of Thomas More Society, please visit www.thomasmoresociety.org.