5th Circuit Must Rule on Petitions, Issue Mandate Before HB 1523 Becomes Law
JACKSON — Both parties challenging House Bill 1523 filed petitions for re-hearing before the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last week, asking the full court to hear their case after the three-judge panel reversed the lower court's injunction that prevented the "Protecting Freedom of Conscience from Government Discrimination Act" from taking effect in 2016.
As a result of the plaintiffs' petitions, the bill is not yet law. The 5th Circuit must issue a mandate before HB 1523 becomes law, and they cannot do that with outstanding petitions.
New York-based attorney Roberta Kaplan, who represents the Campaign for Southern Equality and Rev. Susan Hrostowski, plans to continue to challenge HB 1523. Kaplan said if HB 1523 went into effect, it would likely encourage other states to enact similar legislation.
In her brief, Kaplan, who recently left the large Paul Weiss law group to set up the firm Kaplan & Company, argues that the 5th Circuit's ruling, which states that plaintiffs are not personally confronted by HB 1523, is wrong.
Read more: http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2017/jul/13/5th-circuit-must-rule-petitions-issue-mandate-hb-1/