Jennifer Hawks

Jennifer Hawks is associate general counsel of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty in Washington, D.C., where she provides legal analysis on church-state issues that arise before Congress, the courts and administrative agencies. She is a graduate of Mississippi College and the University of Mississippi School of Law. She also earned a Master of Divinity from George W. Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor University.

Jennifer Hawks

Public schools getting short shrift (again) in coronavirus relief package

“Reopen schools” is a good slogan, but it is far from a plan. The coronavirus continues to challenge public school administrators, teachers, parents and students who want a safe return to the classroom. Congress should do its part to support…

School voucher proponents are using the COVID-19 crisis to push for taxpayer money for religious education

Some politicians are using the pandemic-fueled economic crisis to push dangerous proposals that put our religious liberty at risk. And no, I’m not talking about applying stay-at-home orders to in-person worship services.

Judge Kavanaugh, the wall of separation is worth defending

Judge Kavanaugh, contrary to your disparagement of “the wall” of separation between church and state, this concept is certainly not “bad history,” nor is it useless in modern debates. This metaphor worked for Roger Williams and President Jefferson – and still works today. The wall does not keep people of faith from the public square but separates institutional control.