The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states can require public employee labor unions to get consent from non-members before using their dues for political activities and lobbying. Justice Antonin Scalia said the law does not violate the union's First Amendment rights. Now, many are eager to use this ruling to make predictions for the outcome of the Wisconsin Right to Life (WRTL) case which will be decided by the end of the month. And from the Washington Post, "Alito Calls Free-Speech Limits 'Dangerous' as Court Considers Cases."

The New York Times reports on a shift of the Justice Department's civil rights mission. During the Bush administration, religious cases are being taken up much more than cases of racial discrimination.

The state of Pennsylvania and civil liberties groups settled a lawsuit that challenged government funding of a faith-based job training program at a county jail. The settlement requires that state officials do not use public funds to support religious activities, that tax-funded programs will not religiously discriminate against program participants, and that the state will monitor the program activities to ensure there are no violations.