▁libert ies ▁in ▁the ▁courts , ▁and ▁the ▁R uther ford ▁Institute ▁became ▁the ▁model ▁for ▁groups ▁such ▁as ▁the ▁National ▁Leg al ▁Foundation , ▁the ▁Liber ty ▁Coun sel , ▁and ▁the ▁American ▁Center ▁for ▁Law ▁and ▁Justice . ▁ ▁History ▁and ▁legal ▁actions ▁ ▁Since ▁its ▁found ing , ▁the ▁R uther ford ▁Institute ▁has ▁expanded ▁its ▁a ims ▁from ▁def ending ▁the ▁religious ▁libert ies ▁of ▁Christians ▁to ▁include ▁def ending ▁the ▁religious ▁libert ies ▁of ▁all ▁Americans , ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁working ▁to ▁preserve ▁rights ▁such ▁as ▁free ▁speech ▁and ▁the ▁right ▁to ▁be ▁secure ▁from ▁un reason able ▁search ▁and ▁se iz ure . ▁ ▁Relig ious ▁liberty ▁ ▁In ▁ 2 0 0 4 , ▁the ▁group ▁file d ▁a ▁law suit ▁against ▁Mus k og ee ▁Public ▁School s ▁in ▁Oklahoma ▁on ▁beh alf ▁of ▁Nash ala ▁H ear n , ▁an ▁ 1 1 - year - old ▁Muslim ▁student ▁who ▁was ▁susp ended ▁for ▁we aring ▁a ▁religious ▁head scar f ▁to ▁school . ▁ ▁In ▁ 2 0 0 7 , ▁they ▁file d ▁a ▁law suit ▁against ▁Free hold ▁Township , ▁New ▁Jersey ▁on ▁beh alf ▁of ▁an ▁orth odox ▁ra bbi , ▁Av raham ▁Bern stein , ▁alleg ing ▁that ▁the ▁town ▁was ▁per sec uting ▁Bern stein ▁for ▁holding ▁prayer ▁meet ings ▁in ▁his ▁home ▁on ▁the ▁S abb ath . ▁ ▁In ▁ 2 0 1 1 , ▁the ▁group ▁took ▁up ▁the ▁cause ▁of ▁Laura ▁George , ▁founder