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Sunday, March 05, 2006
Ind. Decisions - More on Judge Hamilton's ruling in Hinrichs, et al. v. Bosma
An item in the Indianapolis Star's Sunday column, Behind Closed Doors:
Prayer might get expensive. House Republicans said they would vigorously defend a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana that led to a federal court's decision to ban official prayers containing the name Jesus.Vigorously now means it's time to hire help from an 875-attorney firm.
House Republicans, under Speaker Brian C. Bosma's leadership, had pledged that their defense of the lawsuit wouldn't cost taxpayers because they are using lawyers from the attorney general's office.
But four attorneys from the firm Winston & Strawn, which has offices in Washington and Chicago, have filed appearances, according to the federal docket.
Steffen N. Johnson is a noted attorney on religious and First Amendment issues, and House Republicans' Chief of Staff Leslie Hiner said they needed that kind of expertise.The goal, she said, is to find a way so taxpayers won't foot the bill. A contract hasn't been signed, so she doesn't know yet how much the attorneys will cost.
Maybe the House should send around a collection plate at the end of business.
Winston & Strawn has offices in Chicago, Geneva, London, Los Angeles, New York, Paris, San Francisco, and Washington, DC. None in Indiana.
For background on the case, start with this ILB entry from Jan. 29. 2006.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on March 5, 2006 08:09 AM
Posted to Ind Fed D.Ct. Decisions