tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30409206.post7081502560559296517..comments2024-01-14T00:50:25.555-08:00Comments on The Cool Justice Report: Looking For Light In Litchfield Synagogue LawsuitThe Cool Justice Reporthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02073992081523946106noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30409206.post-55270302965117653742009-09-27T17:26:59.020-07:002009-09-27T17:26:59.020-07:00I’m glad you’re keeping up with this. The real que...I’m glad you’re keeping up with this. The real question at issue is one of precedence: Does the U.S. Constitution take precedence over zoning regulations?<br /><br />The curt and proper answer is that it does.<br /><br />We forget -- the Supreme Court on occasion has forgotten -- that the freedom of press clause in the first amendment is part of the same grammatical package that contains a prohibition on congress from making laws prohibiting the free exercise of religion. If the zoning board in Litchfield were to write a regulation prohibiting free speech in its historic district, the courts surely would take notice and prohibit the prohibition as violative of the first amendment.<br /><br />The same should be the case with that portion of the first amendment that assures the freedom to exercise one’s faith.<br /><br />That clause has been needlessly deprived of its force because the court has misinterpreted what has since come to be called the wall of separation doctrine.<br /><br />In any case, it’s heartening that you are pursuing this issue with such passion.Don Pescihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11167988001948356357noreply@blogger.com