It says the ruling violates the First Amendment's affirmation of freedom of religion.

"This puts women's equality back several steps," said Mayor Dianne Haskett of London, who thought the judicial ruling violated her community's standards of decency.

The court appeal challenges the law because on the ground the ruling would violate Federal regulation in making the utility to pay more than avoided cost.

Mr. Latimer also said that the ruling violated the principles under which the country's first penitentiary had been established.

In that case, Bell Atlantic argued that the ruling violated its rights under the First Amendment to disseminate information.

Members of the House Pro-Life Caucus declared that the general counsel's ruling "would violate both the letter and spirit of the Federal law."

But officials in Beijing have said the ruling violates China's constitution and must be "rectified."

Instead, she turned around and sued A.I.D., charging that the ruling violated the First Amendment.

The state's highest court is to rule this year whether that ruling violated the right to free speech.

Anne Noble, a lawyer for Fox, said the ruling violated a New Jersey law enacted to protect news organizations from having to disclose unbroadcast material.