User:Jmcgnh/sandbox/CFI1


 * jmcg Editing Notes: (not all of these can be used, but this has become a rather deep rabbithole)
 * Primary source. CFI press release stating why they are not pursuing the case further.
 * CFI2016-2
 * CFI advocacy page for CFI v Jones; has links for earlier documents, but not 2015 motions or 2016 decision
 * http://www.centerforinquiry.net/advocacy/council_for_secular_humanism_v._jones/
 * CFI copy of state's appeal 2009
 * http://www.centerforinquiry.net/uploads/attachments/Appellees_Motion_for_Rehearing_En_Banc_-_CSH-2.pdf
 * Website for Council for Secular Humanism
 * https://www.secularhumanism.org/
 * Free Inquiry article about CSH merging with CSI in 2015
 * https://www.secularhumanism.org/index.php/articles/7157
 * Newspaper story reporting adverse decision in 2016
 * NewBos2016-1 (ref not used)
 * Newspaper story reporting that CFI won't appeal
 * NewBos2016-2
 * Newspaper article about the suit's revival in 2015.
 * BPB2015 (ref not used)
 * Article includes facsimile of motion for summary judgement.
 * Becket Fund for Religious Liberty supported the state in this lawsuit
 * http://www.becketfund.org
 * http://www.becketfund.org/florida-may-put-blaine-repeal-on-the-ballot-this-fall/
 * Copies from Becket Fund site of motion and cross motion for summary judgement from 2015
 * http://www.becketfund.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Center-for-Inquiry-Response.pdf
 * http://www.becketfund.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Center-for-Inquiry-Motion-For-Summary-Judgment.pdf
 * This page from Becket Fund can be mined for newsreports regarding the Jan 2016 decision that CSI decided not to appeal
 * http://www.becketfund.org/center-for-inquiry-v-jones/#tab4
 * This page from Becket Fund contains links to court docs, including Jan 2016 decision
 * http://www.becketfund.org/center-for-inquiry-v-jones/#tab3
 * PDF of final decision of the district court. Document contains a digest of the history of the case.
 * CFIvJones2016
 * Note that this is sourced from Becket Fund, not an independent source, so title, author, publisher all a bit anomolous. As this was a district court decision, it does not seem to be on findlaw.com.
 * Ballotpedia.org has good coverage of the results for Amendment 8, to remove Blaine amendment language from Florida constitution
 * Ballot2012
 * Ballotpedia article contains more news reporting on the process of getting the amendment on the ballot, supporters and opponents
 * Newspaper article about amendment measure approved by Florida house
 * TB2011
 * Reporter's byline says "MIAMI HERALD" - is this an issue?
 * Newspaper article about the failure in 2012 to amend Florida constitution
 * TB2012
 * This is the same article used in the WP article on the Blaine amendment to support the statement that Florida voters rejected the repeal
 * Statement from Florida ACLU opposing Amendment 8 on 2012 ballot
 * https://aclufl.org/pdfs/2012-09-ACLUWhatIsAmendment8.pdf
 * Blaine amendment
 * Does not look like there's anything to add to the WP Blaine amendment article, the ballot measure (Amendment 8) is already covered there
 * More ACLU material on the Blaine amendment
 * https://www.aclu.org/files/assets/aclu-exposingthemythofanticatholicbias.pdf
 * CHS2010
 * More 3rd party discussion of Blaine amendment issues
 * http://www.pewforum.org/2008/07/24/the-blaine-game-controversy-over-the-blaine-amendments-and-public-funding-of-religion/
 * Here's another newspaper discussion HJR-1471
 * http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/the-buzz-florida-politics/content/blaine-amendment-repeal-passes-florida-house
 * Now, in this article, almost passed through the Senate. We know it eventually got passed, but where's the newspaper citation for it? SJR-1218
 * http://www.examiner.com/article/florida-senate-judiciary-approves-repeal-of-church-state-separation
 * Blacklisted site???
 * This article has perhaps the strongest connection between the CHS decision and Amendment 8
 * OS2011

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 * What I would like to find and am still looking for, particularly from suitable 2nd and 3rd party sources:
 * Article announcing court's decision. - have one, would like a couple of others from non-conservative or non-Christian outlets
 * Pointers to the faith-based initiative(s) related to the suit. They're not wiki-linked.


 * Note that the case name changes as each new Secretary of the Florida Department of Corrections appears, starting with McNiel, ending with Jones and also when CHS ceased independent operation, merging more closely with CFI. Also note that Ron Lindsay was CEO of CHS when suit was filed and CEO of CFI at the end.

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 * Remaining things that would be nice to find, this is getting close:
 * Find newspaper article sourcing reasons CFI decided not to pursue: from press release, the indications are 1) unlikely to prevail, 2) (due to) inhospitable judicial climate after courts stuffed with Republican nominees, 3) (hence) not a good use of funds.
 * Better identification of the leaders of the efforts behind Amendment 8.

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Searched for, but never found, reporting on statements from Ron Lindsay about why CFI declined to pursue the appeal.


 * Timeline
 * 2007 CHS files suit 2007-CA-1358
 * 2007-08 1st District court finds for contractors, dismisses; CHS appealed, panel finds, at least in part, for CHS
 * 2009 State appeals for en banc review
 * 2010 CHS wins on one count on the appeal, referred to as CHS 2010, establishes criteria for unconstitutionality, remanded back to district court
 * 2010 State appealed but Fl supreme court declined to take the case
 * 2010-2011 Republicans and religious right push for Amendment 8, get it on the ballot
 * 2010-15 Discovery and other delays
 * 2012 Amendment 8 fails at the polls (see Ballotpedia for details)
 * 2014 State and halfway houses change language of contracting and training to de-emphasize religion - without changing actual practices
 * 2015 CHS ceases independent operation, merges into CFI
 * 2015 Motions for summary judgement
 * 2016 2nd District court issues final judgement against CSI, CSI declines to appeal

Draft of new subsection text, probably inserted following the "=== Wyndgate Country Club and Richard Dawkins, 2011 ===" subsection

CSH actions against faith-based initiatives
In 2007, CSH sued the Florida Department of Corrections (DOC) to block the use of state funds in contracts to faith-based programs for released inmates, claiming that this use is prohibited under the "No Aid" provision or Blaine amendment of the Florida constitution. The initial decision found in favor of the DOC but, on appeal, the case was remanded in 2010 on just the issue of the unconstitutionality of appropriating state funds for this purpose.

While this case was in progress, after the appellate finding, Republican legislators began an effort to amend the Florida constitution to remove the language of the Blaine amendment, succeeding in 2011 to place the measure on the 2012 ballot as amendment 8. The ballot measure failed.

In 2015, CHS (now CFI) and the state (along with its co-defendants) both filed for summary judgement. The court granted the state's motion in January, 2016, allowing the contested contracting practice to continue. After consideration, CFI announced in February, 2016, that it would not appeal.

Center for Inquiry link back to original article