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A badly divided Supreme Court has overturned a good ruling against a cross that sits on federal land. The opinions did not provide much guidance but, over all, are likely to encourage those who want to entangle government and religion. In 1934, private citizens put a cross on federally owned land in what is now the Mojave National Preserve in California, to honor Americans who died in World War I. A park visitor sued in 2001, and a federal judge ruled that the cross violated the First Amendment's establishment clause because it conveyed ''a message of endorsement of religion.'' [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

California's highest court is allowing the state to tell sunbathers they can be punished for enjoying public beaches in the nude, even in areas informally designated as ''clothing optional.'' The California Supreme Court on Thursday denied review of a 2008 lower court ruling upholding the right to cite nude beachgoers in Orange County. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article presents details regarding a California Supreme Court case ruling in favor of public institutions over private schools when in conflict over land property ownership rights. The case's proceedings between a 30-acre land dispute between the public college Mt. San Jacinto College and private institute Azusa Pacific University are presented. Issues in contention included the interpretation of eminent domain laws along with debates surrounding the fair property values which Azusa Pacific demanded.