Do corporations have the same religious rights as individuals? If so, what size of corporation can be considered and what sort of sincerity threshold should they meet? And what about the potential conflict with an individual's right to health care?
The decision the U.S. Supreme Court makes in the case of Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby Stores has the potential to answer those questions, setting some new precedents in the process. The for-profit company sued the Department of Health and Human Services, saying the requirement to provide certain forms of contraception violates the 1993 Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
And that's not the only case currently on the SCOTUS docket with implications for health care and the first amendment freedoms of speech, religion and assembly. Also on the docket is a challenge to a Massachusetts law that bans protesters from public sidewalks in front of abortion clinics.
Host Don Marsh talked with a panel of legal experts to explain these issues and more.
The panelists included:
- William Freivogel, J.D., Director, School of Journalism; Associate Professor, Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, Southern Illinois University – Carbondale
- Mark Smith, J.D., Associate Vice Chancellor and Director, The Career Center, Washington University in St. Louis
- John Inazu, J.D., Ph.D, Associate Professor of Law, Washington University in St. Louis; Author of "Liberty's Refuge: The Forgotten Freedom of Assembly"
Other topics included:
- The Missouri Supreme Court's ruling on school transfers in Kansas City
- Ronnie White's second chance at a federal judgeship
- Silicon Valley's letter demanding government surveillance reform
- Why Creve Coeur put its red light camera program on hold
St. Louis on the Air provides discussion about issues and concerns facing the St. Louis area. The show is produced by Mary Edwards and Alex Heuer and hosted by veteran journalist Don Marsh.