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The mission of Life Legal Defense Foundation (LLDF) is to give innocent and helpless human beings of any age, particularly unborn children, a trained and committed defense against the threat of death, and to support their advocates in the nation's courtrooms. LLDF will accomplish its mission and purpose through the law and education.

Stem Cell Research Updates and Resources

General Information

Life Legal Defense Foundation supports ethical stem cell research, such as stem cell research using Life Legal Defense Foundation supports ethical stem cell research, such as stem cell research using adult and umbilical cord stem cells, which have already produced many cures and therapies. We do not support embryonic stem cell research, whether from "discarded" embryos or from newly-created cloned embryos. Unfortunately, Prop 71 is aimed at funding the latter research, despite the lack of positive results from such research to date. Please view our Stem Cell Research page for more information. adult and umbilical cord stem cells, which have already produced many cures and therapies. We do not support embryonic stem cell research, whether from "discarded" embryos or from newly-created cloned embryos. Unfortunately, Prop 71 is aimed at funding the latter research, despite the lack of positive results from such research to date.

 

LLDF Files Second Challenge to Stem Cell Grant

On Monday, June 26, 2006, attorneys for Life Legal Defense Foundation filed suit against Steve Westly, Controller of the State of California, and Robert C. Dynes, President of the University of California, on behalf of the National Tax Limitation Foundation. Joining the suit as a plaintiff is the California Family Bioethics Council, represented by Attorney David Llewellyn of Llewellyn Spann. NTLF and CFBC are seeking declaratory and injunctive relief in a taxpayer action related to the funding of training grants approved by the Independent Citizen's Oversight Committee on September 9, 2005. The ICOC is the 29 member Governing Board of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, 9 members of whom are affiliated with the University of California.

The taxpayer action alleges conflicts of interest due to the fact that ICOC board members voted to approve training grants totaling approximately $38.9 million to 16 institutions, eight of whom were constituent institutions or entities of the University of California.

On April 4, 2006, The California Stem Cell Research and Cures Finance Committee, chaired by State Treasurer Phil Angelides, approved the sale of $14 million in bond anticipation notes to fund ICOC training grants.

Defendant Westly then approved the issuance of warrants for release of $12.1 million in funding pursuant to the ICOC grant awards. Defendant Dynes received approximately $6.7 million of the funds released on behalf of the University of California.

This action was brought because the trial court, in an action brought in the Alameda County Superior Court which went to trial earlier this year, was unwilling to consider particular instances of alleged illegitimate actions by the ICOC and the University of California. In order to protect taxpayers' interests, NTLF and CFBC filed this action; the State Attorney General has repeatedly stated that state control is exercised through the Controller's office, which would refuse to issue any warrants that did not comply with the law. This action will expose the amount of control actually being exercised over the ICOC.

Trial Court Decision in the Embryonic Stem Cell Research Case

On Friday, May 12, 2006, the Alameda Superior Court, Judge Bonnie Sabraw, presiding, affirmed the earlier Proposed Statement of Decision issued by that court which held that Proposition 71 does not violate Article 16, Section 3 of the California State Constitution, which prohibits any entity not under the exclusive management and control of the State from disbursing and spending state funds.

Plaintiffs People's Advocate and the National Tax Limitation Foundation, represented by Life Legal Defense Foundation at trial, challenged the constitutionality of the Act created by Proposition 71 on the basis that the Independent Citizen's Oversight Committee, also created in the Act, is an entity not under the exclusive management and control of the state because the Act did not contain sufficient state controls with regard to the spending of $3 billion dollars in general obligation bonds by the ICOC. Plaintiffs' position is unchanged and they plan to appeal the Court's decision. The question still remains, from whom is the ICOC independent?

You can read the Court's decision in its entirety via their web site at www.alameda.courts.ca.gov. The case number is HG05 206766.

As predicted, the trial court's judgment was much like the decision earlier proposed by the court. While disappointed with the judgment, Life Legal has maintained all along that this case will be decided in the California Supreme Court. To read the issues that LLDF raised regarding the Statement of Decision prior to its becoming the judgment of the trial court, please click here.

LLDF will be filing a notice of appeal on behalf of the People's Advocate and the National Tax Limitation Foundation on June 12, 2006.


Read the issues that LLDF raised regarding the statement of decision.

Stem Cell Wars, Volume 1- This is a comprehensive background briefing on the issues surrounding embryonic stem cell research. Access the collection of materials online here.

Life Legal Defense Foundation recently participated in a roundtable event hosted by the Center for Bioethics and Culture which focused on Proposition 71 and the efficacy of stem cell research. This video clip highlights a discussion between Debra Greenfield, J.D., fellow at the Institute on Biotechnology and the Human Future, and William Hurlbut, member of the President's Council on Bioethics. The subject is the council's proposal to create stem cells without creating embryos. View the video clip.

Listen to Dana Cody explain LLDF's anti-Proposition 71 lawsuit. go

LLDF opposes the CA Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative (CSCRCI). http://www.curesforcalifornia.com/

Before you to visit the CSCRCI Web site, please read the following articles:

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