ACLJ Files Federal Lawsuit against School District in Oregon for Discriminating against Student Bible Club.

News Editors

PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 23, 2004

The American Center for Law and Justice, an international public interest law firm, today filed suit in federal court in Portland, Oregon on behalf of a high school senior who faced discrimination by school officials who refused to provide the student's Bible club with the same benefits and access given to other student organizations at school.

"This is a case involving discrimination aimed at a religious group - discrimination that is unconstitutional," said Stuart J. Roth, Senior Counsel of the ACLJ, which is representing the student. "The law clearly states that if a school district permits student organizations to meet at school, it cannot discriminate against a student religious group. That group must be given the same benefits and privileges afforded to other student organizations. That did not happen in this case. And, we are hopeful the court will safeguard the constitutional and statutory rights of our client."

The ACLJ today filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Portland, Oregon on behalf of Jeffrey Chatterton, a senior at John Marshall High School in Portland, who was prohibited from using school facilities to display information about his Bible club, Teens Encountering Christ.

Chatterton was initially permitted to display a number of items in a school display case in early December 2003 including a Bible, religious books, quotes from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and President Lincoln, and a description of the Bible club. The suit contends that school officials removed the display within days saying the material was "sanctioning religion."

The school district recognizes other student organizations including the Chess Club, Table Tennis Club, Outdoor Club, and the Click Photo Club and permits other clubs to place items in a school display case.

The ACLJ suit challenges both the actions of the school officials and a school district policy that prohibits official recognition of religious club. The policy states: "Religious clubs or clubs intended to engage in religious exercise or to promote any one religion shall not be chartered." And the school district says non-chartered clubs cannot use school resources to issue announcements or information.

"The policy singles out religious groups and targets them for discrimination," said Roth. "We are confident the court will not permit the school district to continue to deny equal treatment to the Bible club and move to ensure that the Bible club receives the same benefits and privileges made available to other student clubs."

The suit names as defendants the Multnomah County School District No. 1J as well as school officials at John Marshall High School. The suit contends that the actions and policies of the school district violate the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution as well as the Equal Access Act. The suit requests the court to issue an injunction to prohibit the discriminatory action from continuing and to declare the policies and actions of the school district unconstitutional.

The American Center for Law and Justice is an international public interest law firm specializing in constitutional law. The ACLJ is based in Washington, D.C. and its web site address is www.aclj.org.