Are attorney free speech rights and religious liberty in jeopardy by new ABA rule?

This week on FOT we’re going to take up an issue we’ve mentioned the on the past two programs, the American Bar Association’s (ABA) adoption of Model Rule 8.4, which according to former Attorney General Edwin Meese and First Liberty President Kelly Shackelford, “is a clear and extraordinary threat to free speech and religious liberty.”


Cleve Doty

The rule, according to its critics, would make attorneys subject to disciplinary action, and possible disbarment, for exercising their free speech rights by expressing ideas that run against the prevailing political correctness – even is such speech is made in a private gathering having nothing to do with the attorney’s legal practice.

An earlier story on this can be found here, including a link to the Meese-Shackelford letter to the ABA prior to its vote to adopt the rule.

To discuss this rule First Liberty Attorney Cleve Doty will join Deacon Mike Manno and Gina Noll for a frank discussion of Rule 8.4. Before joining First Liberty, Cleve was with the Texas Solicitor General’s Office where he briefed and argued legal appeals at all levels of state and federal courts, including the U. S. Supreme Court.

In addition our own Stephanie Crowley will give us her review of the re-make of the epic

movie BEN-HUR.

FOT airs every Tuesday at 9 a.m. (Central) on Iowa Catholic Radio 1150 AM; 88.5 & 94.5 FM; and streams at IowaCatholicRadio.com. The program re-airs at 9 p.m. and podcasts of our earlier programs can be found here.

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