T
The420Guy
Guest
Like a dandelion on a well-manicured lawn, Ed "NJWEEDMAN" Forchion's newest
lawsuit has arrived at the Burlington County Superior Court. This time he
filed a $5 Million lawsuit claiming denial of freedom of speech and freedom
of religion against his ex-girlfriend, Linda Holden, and Judges Maria Bell,
John Almeida, as well as two other Judges. Citing that the Judges sit on a
Burlington County Court, Forchion is also petitioning for a change of
venue. (Docket No. L-0001922-02)
The lawsuit reiterates Forchion's defense that he is a member of the
Rastafarian religion, which uses - emphasizes the use of marijuana in
certain ceremonies as a sacrament.
Therefore, he claims he has a legal right to use marijuana, laws regarding
its use notwithstanding. Forchion also claims that espousing his beliefs to
legalize its use caused Judge Bell to take away his visitation and custody
rights to one of his daughters, Ajanea.
Forchion has previously run for Burlington County freeholder and the U.S.
Congress as a means to change the laws regarding the use and possession of
marijuana.
Early last month he was jailed for what he said was "legally protesting
outside of the Burlington County Courthouse and giving interviews" to
various newspapers.
His defense also includes a briefing from the 9th U.S. Court of Appeals,
which on February 2nd, 1996 ruled that Rastafarian defendants, as a defense
against charges of possession of marijuana, should be allowed to show that
they use marijuana for religious reasons.
However, Judge John T. Noonan, Jr., writing for the court, stated that the
government could challenge whether the defendants were really Rastafarians.
"It is not enough in order to enjoy the protections of the Religious
Freedom Restoration Act to claim the name of a religion as a protective
cloak. Neither the government nor the court has to accept the mere say-so."
A May 2002 decision again ruled in favor of allowing religious exemptions
to religious laws, including the smoking of marijuana - but only on federal
land.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of appeals ruling, though, only applies to
California and the other eight western states under it's jurisdiction. The
Court may be best known for its recent declaring of the recital of the
Pledge of Allegiance as unconstitutional, stating that an atheist or holder
of certain non-Judeo-Christian beliefs could see the phrase "under god" as
an endorsement of monotheism.
Pubdate: Thu, 04 Jul 2002
Source: Community News (NJ)
Copyright: 2002 Community News
Contact: INGCNews@aol.com
Website: southjerseylocalnews.com
Details: MapInc (NJWEEDMAN)
Bookmark: MapInc (Spiritual or Sacramental)
lawsuit has arrived at the Burlington County Superior Court. This time he
filed a $5 Million lawsuit claiming denial of freedom of speech and freedom
of religion against his ex-girlfriend, Linda Holden, and Judges Maria Bell,
John Almeida, as well as two other Judges. Citing that the Judges sit on a
Burlington County Court, Forchion is also petitioning for a change of
venue. (Docket No. L-0001922-02)
The lawsuit reiterates Forchion's defense that he is a member of the
Rastafarian religion, which uses - emphasizes the use of marijuana in
certain ceremonies as a sacrament.
Therefore, he claims he has a legal right to use marijuana, laws regarding
its use notwithstanding. Forchion also claims that espousing his beliefs to
legalize its use caused Judge Bell to take away his visitation and custody
rights to one of his daughters, Ajanea.
Forchion has previously run for Burlington County freeholder and the U.S.
Congress as a means to change the laws regarding the use and possession of
marijuana.
Early last month he was jailed for what he said was "legally protesting
outside of the Burlington County Courthouse and giving interviews" to
various newspapers.
His defense also includes a briefing from the 9th U.S. Court of Appeals,
which on February 2nd, 1996 ruled that Rastafarian defendants, as a defense
against charges of possession of marijuana, should be allowed to show that
they use marijuana for religious reasons.
However, Judge John T. Noonan, Jr., writing for the court, stated that the
government could challenge whether the defendants were really Rastafarians.
"It is not enough in order to enjoy the protections of the Religious
Freedom Restoration Act to claim the name of a religion as a protective
cloak. Neither the government nor the court has to accept the mere say-so."
A May 2002 decision again ruled in favor of allowing religious exemptions
to religious laws, including the smoking of marijuana - but only on federal
land.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of appeals ruling, though, only applies to
California and the other eight western states under it's jurisdiction. The
Court may be best known for its recent declaring of the recital of the
Pledge of Allegiance as unconstitutional, stating that an atheist or holder
of certain non-Judeo-Christian beliefs could see the phrase "under god" as
an endorsement of monotheism.
Pubdate: Thu, 04 Jul 2002
Source: Community News (NJ)
Copyright: 2002 Community News
Contact: INGCNews@aol.com
Website: southjerseylocalnews.com
Details: MapInc (NJWEEDMAN)
Bookmark: MapInc (Spiritual or Sacramental)
