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While Jehovah’s Witnesses have chosen to temporarily suspend their door-to-door ministry due to the pandemic, their activity was almost permanently banned by one U.S. village in the late 1990s — that is until the United States Supreme Court stepped in with a historic 8-1 decision on June 17, 2002, declaring the local ordinance unconstitutional.

As the 20th anniversary of that precedent-setting decision nears, some Houma residents wonder what their lives would be like if one of their neighbors had not knocked on their door and shared a life-changing message with them. Constitutional scholars marvel at the outsized impact the decision has had on the protection of free speech for all, agreeing with Justice Antonin Scalia’s opinion in the case, “The free-speech claim exempts everybody, thanks to Jehovah’s Witnesses.”

“I was excited to hear the knock on the door,” said Darlene Ledet, who remembers that knock as being an important moment in her life. “I felt like many people gave up on me. I was on my knees praying to God and contemplating my self-worth. What I learned changed my life for the better.”

The 2002 Supreme Court decision in Watchtower v. Village of Stratton affirmed that a local village ordinance in Stratton, Ohio, requiring a permit to knock on doors violated the rights of any person who wanted to engage in free speech with their neighbor, including Jehovah’s Witnesses who practice door-to-door evangelizing. The Court overturned two lower court rulings that upheld the ordinance and thus paved the way for all citizens to maintain open dialogue with their neighbors on any number of issues, including environmental, civic, political or educational.

“Looking back on the two decades since the decision, it’s clear to see the wide-ranging impact that Watchtower v. Stratton has had on free speech for all,” said Josh McDaniel, director of the Religious Freedom Clinic at the Harvard Law School. “This is just the latest of some 50 Supreme Court victories by Jehovah’s
Witnesses that have helped establish and broaden First Amendment jurisprudence throughout the last century.”

The village of Stratton became a center of controversy in 1998 after the mayor personally confronted four Jehovah’s Witnesses as they were driving out of the village after visiting a resident, according to a press release from the Jehovah's Witnesses.

Subsequently, the village enacted the ordinance “Regulating Uninvited Peddling and Solicitation Upon Private Property,” which required anyone wishing to engage in door-to-door activity to obtain a permit from the mayor or face imprisonment. Jehovah’s Witnesses viewed this ordinance as an infringement of freedom of speech, free exercise of religion, and freedom of press. Therefore, they brought a lawsuit in federal court after the village refused to modify its enforcement of this ordinance.

“Our motive for initiating the case was clear: We wanted to remove any obstacle that would prevent us from carrying out our scriptural obligation to preach the good news of the Kingdom,” said Robert Hendriks, U.S. spokesman for Jehovah’s Witnesses. “Making it a criminal offense to talk with a neighbor without seeking government approval is offensive to many people, but particularly to God who commanded Christians to preach the gospel.”

While Ledet continues to engage in a productive ministry through letter writing, phone calls, and virtual visits, she is looking forward to knocking on doors again.

“We are thankful that we have the legal right to practice our ministry from door to door,” said Hendriks. “When the time is right and conditions are safe, we hope to visit our neighbors in person once again.”

This victory is one of more than 250 rulings in cases brought by Jehovah’s Witnesses in high courts around the world that have expanded the rights of people of all religious faiths. “It's hard to point to any organization, let alone a religious organization, that has had such a profound impact on the shaping of constitutional law over many decades in the Supreme Court," said Harvard professor McDaniel.

The Louisiana Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee adjourned on the first day of a special six-day redistricting session without approving a bill to add a second minority-majority congressional district, as ordered by the court.

Committee members voted 6-3 to hold Senate Bill 1, sponsored by Sen. Cleo Fields, D-Baton Rouge, until Friday to give lawmakers and the public time to consider a series of amendments added in committee during a five-hour hearing on Thursday.

SB 1, which is similar to a bill Fields offered during the regular session, aims to expand the number of black congressional districts in Louisiana from one to two, as required by a recent ruling from U.S. District Judge Shelly Dick.

Republicans approved a new congressional district map during an extraordinary session in February, maintaining the status quo of one black district out of six. Gov. John Bel Edwards vetoed the map and Republicans overrode the veto.

Civil rights groups and voting rights advocates immediately sued to block the map over alleged violations of the U.S. Voting Rights Act, which requires lawmakers to provide minorities with an opportunity to elect a representative of their choice, if possible.

Dick agreed the map violated the law and gave lawmakers six days, until Monday at 6 p.m., to craft a new map with two black districts and she promised to create one herself if they fail. Republicans appealed Dick's ruling but the appeals court denied a request to halt Dick's order as the case proceeds.

In the Senate committee, Fields detailed how SB 1 would create a second majority black district in the 5th Congressional District, which is currently held by Republican U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow, who is in her first term. U.S. Rep. Troy Carter, a Democrat in the 2nd District, represents the state's sole black majority congressional district.

Local representatives from Vernon, Lafayette and St. Tammany parishes testified against SB 1 over objections to how it splits parishes.

The committee adopted an amendment by Sen. Mike Reese, R-Leesville, to shift the boundaries of Districts 3 and 4 to preserve Fort Polk Army Base and Vernon Parish in one district, and the amendment was adopted without objection after a lengthy discussion.

The committee also adopted an amendment from Sen. Franklin Foil, R-Baton Rouge, to revert to the districts in the current map after the November election if Republicans win their appeal.

Fields and Democrats on the committee repeatedly urged their colleagues to advance SB 1 to the Senate floor for debate today but were outvoted by Republicans 6-3. Fields stressed that holding the bill would result in lawmakers violating Dick's order by not leaving enough time to approve the measure in both chambers.

"Let's not play games with a federal court," Fields said.

Republicans countered that lawmakers and constituents deserve time to digest and weigh in on the changes in Reese's amendment before approval.

As senators debated SB 1, Senate President Page Cortez, R-Lafayette, and House Speaker Clay Schexnayder, R-Gonzalez, argued in a 90-minute hearing before Dick that six days isn't enough time to approve a new map, and requested an extension until at least June 30.

Dick denied the request and admonished Schexnayder for the House wasting the first day of the special session on Wednesday without making progress, as well as the speaker introducing legislation that did not include a second black congressional district.

Dick highlighted federal law that empowers judges to fine or imprison those who violate a court order and asked Schexnayder why he shouldn't be held in contempt, the Advocate reports.

Schexnayder said his bill is a "placeholder" to be amended or used as necessary, but Dick described the House effort as "disingenuous" and "insincere," noting that lawmakers have approved congressional maps in the past in six days.

Sen. Sharon Hewitt, R-Slidell, author of the congressional map approved by lawmakers in February and chair of the Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee, said a second bill to create a second black congressional district is expected to be filed in the Senate today.

The House and Governmental Affairs Committee is scheduled to hear four redistricting bills on Friday.

DEAR ABBY: I am engaged to be married, and I’m over-the-moon excited. My grown daughter will be my maid of honor, and I had all my bridesmaids picked out. My sister is the issue. Her new boyfriend (she goes through a lot of them) makes my daughter uncomfortable. He has tried repeatedly to add her to his social media accounts, some of which contain disturbing sexual content.
I told my sister that while I want her in the wedding, my daughter comes first, and he won’t be allowed to be around us or to participate. My sister has, predictably, sided with him. She insists I’m unreasonable and that he’s a great guy, although she has known him for only three months.
Am I wrong?
BRIDE-TO-BE IN TEXAS

DEAR BRIDE-TO-BE: You are not wrong; you have your priorities in order. If your daughter intuitively feels your sister’s boyfriend of three months makes her uncomfortable, her feelings should be respected.
Stick to your guns and, if necessary, be prepared to replace your sister in the wedding party.

DEAR ABBY: My son and his wife struggled through the COVID-19 pandemic. He lost his job. My wife and I supported them through this period by paying their mortgage and most of their living expenses. He has recently started a good, career-oriented job.
However, his wife recently discovered that he has been secretly spending beyond their means for years on “toys,” and that unbeknownst to her, he has decimated their savings and accumulated substantial debt. When she confronted him, he said he had a “spending addiction.” To top it off, they have a pandemic baby, our granddaughter. We are at our wits’ end. What should we do?
NOT MADE OF MONEY

DEAR NOT MADE: What should you do? Stop opening your wallet. The real question is: What is your SON going to do about this? If he’s truly addicted to spending beyond his means (people sometimes have been known to attempt to cope with depression by shopping), he needs more help than you can give.
If he wants to regain control of his life, he should consider joining Spenders Anonymous (spenders.org) or Debtors Anonymous (debtorsanonymous.org). Both are 12-step programs for individuals who are in the same situation as your son.

DEAR ABBY: My lifelong friend is bipolar. She refuses to get counseling but does take medication. While I try to be compassionate and encouraging, she has morphed into a complete drama queen. If she has a headache, she is sure it’s brain cancer. If she has a hangnail, it will undoubtedly require amputation. She excels at constant whining. I can’t just turn my back on her, but sometimes I have had my fill of “poor me.” Am I being a horrible friend?
HAVE MY LIMITS IN CALIFORNIA

DEAR HAVE: No. From your description, your friend is not only bipolar, but also may suffer from hypochondria. Because you find her complaints stressful and aggravating, you have the right to ration your exposure to her behavior.
***
To order “How to Write Letters for All Occasions,” send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 to: Dear Abby — Letter Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447.

It's taking a while — more than decade — but Berwick appears to be making progress with its plans for sidewalk work in the downtown area.

The $202,382.40 project showed up Tuesday on a list of projects for which bids have been received by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development.

The town was first notified it would get the funding in 2011, Chief Administrative Officer Newell “Bubba” Slaughter said.

In an email Wednesday, DOTD Public Information Officer Brandie Richardson Bordelon said funding wasn’t the cause of the delay.

“It was in the plan development phase,” Bordelon wrote. “Prelim-inary plans were not originally submitted until 2014, with more additional submittals added the following years that included comments and revisions.”

The streets targeted by the sidewalk plans include Sixth, Oregon, Jeddo, Ceylon and Fourth.

In another project of local interest, the DOTD says it has received a low bid of $136,521,559.76 for a new interchange at U.S. 90 and Ambassador Caffery Parkway in Lafayette Parish, part of plans to upgrade U.S. 90 into Interstate 49 South from Lafayette to New Orleans.

Plans for I-49 South will eventually include eliminating crossover intersections from Calumet to the Atchafalaya.