Jerry Summers
Just when Rhea Countians were beginning to enjoy and think that the “fame or shame” of the 1925 Monkey Trial was going to be put to rest by the actions of the House of Representatives (Not Senate) in the Tennessee General Assembly in the debacle over the expelling of the “Tennessee 3,” the great state of Montana grabs all of the glory with the expulsion of Democrat Zooey Zephyr by the Republican majority from returning to the state House floor after he/she et al., expressed their concern over their treatment when the first openly transgender woman elected to Montana’s legislature was silenced by the G.O.P. lawmakers for her assertion that the (Grand Old Party) “would have blood on their hands for opposing gender-affirming health care for kids.”
She, he (I don’t know) et al., sued under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution on their own behalf and that of 11,000 constituents in “The Treasure State” by the American Civil Liberties Union of Montana.
A federal district judge dismissed the initial lawsuit filed by Miss, Mr., Ms., et al., Zephyr as being an unconstitutional encroachment on the legislative power of the Montana House of Representatives in violation of the doctrine of “separation of powers clause” that controls the independent authority between the legislative, executive and judicial branches of government.
The punishment of silence may become moot (dead) as the legislative term is over and Zooey would have to be re-elected to her present seat in 2024 before being given the opportunity to speak again on the House floor.
The media circus created in the Volunteer State on the Tennessee 3 will continue in the wide open spaces of Montana as a political and campaign issue!
(The public is invited to next year's re-enactment of the Scopes Trial in beautiful downtown Dayton at the historic courthouse!)
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You can reach Jerry Summers at jsummers@summersfirm.com