ACLJ Pleased That Supreme Court Let Stand Appeals Court Decision Mandating That Religious Clubs Get Equal Treatment.

Business Editors

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 6, 2003

The American Center for Law and Justice, an international public interest law firm, said today's decision by the U.S. Supreme Court not to take a Washington state case where a federal appeals court ruled that student religious groups must be given equal access means the appeals court decision stands representing an important victory for the First Amendment and for students across the country.

"By not taking this case, the Supreme Court sends a strong message that the appeals court got it right and that the First Amendment rights of students must be protected," said Jay Sekulow, Chief Counsel of the ACLJ, which urged the Supreme Court not to take the case. "This issue already has been heard by the Supreme Court and there is established precedence protecting the constitutional rights of students. It is also clear that the federal appeals court acted in accordance with existing Supreme Court precedence and reached the proper conclusion: school districts must treat religious groups on campus in the same manner it treats other student groups. The appeals court decision now stands representing an important First Amendment victory for students not only in Washington State but throughout the nation."

The case in question involved Tausha Prince, a former student at Spanaway Lake High School in Spanaway, WA. She wanted to start a student-led and student-initiated Bible club. The Bethel School District, saying the club was religious, refused to permit the club to have the same access as other student clubs - including the use of the school's public address system. The ACLJ filed suit in federal court on behalf of Prince in 1998. The following year, the district court ruled in favor of the school district. That decision was appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, which overturned the district court decision in 2002 saying the school's actions violated the constitutional rights of Prince. The school district asked the Supreme Court to hear the case and today the high court said it would not take the case permitting the appeals court decision to stand.

"This is well-established law that goes to the heart of protecting the First Amendment rights of students who want to express their faith in a school setting," said Sekulow. "There should be no confusion in any school district regarding the fair and equal treatment of religious clubs on campus."

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.