How to Legally Defend the Free Speech Rights of Pro-Life Advocates

Life Legal Defense Foundation Creates Free CLE Program to Empower Attorneys

OAKLAND, Calif., Sept. 13, 2012 /Christian Newswire/ -- The abortion issue continues to polarize America, and pro-life advocates are more frequently challenged in court by the abortion industry. The Life Legal Defense Foundation (LLDF) is providing attorneys a free opportunity to earn Minimum Continuing Learning Education (MCLE) credits and receive training specific to the unique legal challenges that arise out of pro-life activism. The course, "Defending the Free Speech Rights of Pro-Life Advocates," is being offered online through May 2014. Get more details at www.lldf.org/certifications.

"The battle for life is being fought on many fronts, not the least of which is in America's courts," explained Dana Cody, Executive Director of the Life Legal Defense Foundation. "The Life Legal Defense Foundation is offering this course at no charge to equip more attorneys to handle these essential cases." Cody has been championing the rights of women and the unborn for over 20 years, and since 1989 LLDF has defended the civil rights of pro-life advocates and has advised them regarding their free speech rights.

Course instructors for "Defending the Free Speech Rights of Pro-Life Advocates" are Catherine Short, LLDF's Legal Director, and Allison K. Aranda, Senior Staff Counsel at LLDF. Short has written numerous briefs for state and federal courts, including petitions for certiorari and amicus briefs in the United States Supreme Court and California Supreme Court, co-authored key pro-life propositions, and was recently co-counsel in People's Advocate v. ICOC, a suit challenging the constitutionality of embryonic stem cell research funding. Aranda served as co-counsel in People v. Hoye and Turn the Hearts v. City of Birmingham, both key cases dealing with free speech and pro-life advocacy.

"Defending the Free Speech Rights of Pro-Life Advocates" will:

• Train attorneys to handle the unique legal challenges that arise out of pro-life activism
   
• Explore recurring problems in this area
   
• Give a detailed review of the Ninth Circuit case, Hoye v. Oakland
   
• Provide 2.25 hours of General, participatory MCLE credit for California attorneys (attorneys licensed in states other than California should check with their State Bar for reciprocity with California-approved MCLE courses)
   
• Be free of charge until May 2014
   
• Include video and audio options, printable handouts, and online certification quiz

Presented by the Life Legal Defense Foundation, the certification course is available at www.lldf.org/certifications.

About the Life Legal Defense Foundation
Life Legal Defense Foundation is a non-profit organization composed of attorneys and other concerned citizens, committed to giving helpless and innocent human beings of any age, and their advocates, a trained and committed voice in the courtrooms of our nation. For more information, go to www.lldf.org.

Contact: Tom Ciesielka,
312-422-1333 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            312-422-1333      end_of_the_skype_highlighting,
tc@tcpr.net



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