A civil right is an enforceable right or privilege, which if interfered with by another gives rise to an action for injury. Examples of civil rights are freedom of speech, press, and assembly; the right to vote; freedom from involuntary servitude; and the right to equality in public places. Discrimination occurs when the civil rights of an individual are denied or interfered with because of their membership in a particular group or class. Statutes have been enacted to prevent discrimination based on race, sex, religion, age, previous condition of servitude, physical limitation, national origin, and in some instances sexual preference. Civil rights attorneys handle cases involving the rights of individuals to be free from unequal treatment (or discrimination) based on legally-protected characteristics such as race, gender, disability, national origin, age, sexual orientation, and religion. Civil rights cases can arise in a number of settings -- including employment, housing, lending, and education.
Hillsboro is a city in and the county seat of Hill County in Northern Central Texas. The population was 8,232 at the 2000 census. Hillsboro, located on Interstate 35 where I-35E and I-35W meet south of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, is the primary center for trade and commerce in Hill County. It is located almost midway between the Metroplex and Waco, and is the gateway to the popular Lake Whitney. There are many antique stores located downtown, and a popular outlet mall is located along the Interstate, surrounded by numerous hotels and motels. In addition, Hillsboro has two historic Victorian bed and breakfast homes: 1895 Tarlton House downtown, and The Windmill, is in a country setting six miles west toward Lake Whitney. The city is known for its abundance of restored Victorian homes and its historic county courthouse, which on January 1, 1993 was heavily damaged by an electrical fire. It was rebuilt, courtesy of donations from around the world and two concerts sponsored by Hill County native Willie Nelson. The courthouse (See Hill County, Texas for photograph. ) won the Downtown Association's 1999 award for "Best Restoration". The renovation sparked an interest in restoring Texas's historic courthouses. The Hill County courthouse is eight miles from Willie Nelson's hometown, Abbott. The movie Bottle Rocket, starring Owen and Luke Wilson, was filmed here. They used the Days Inn motel, the High School Football stadium, and Highway 171 leading out of Hillsboro.