WASHINGTON (January 27th, 2025)-- Last Friday the Supreme Court agreed to hear Oklahoma’s Religious Charter School case. Oklahoma’s Supreme Court heard a proposal to open the nation’s first religious public school in summer of 2023. The Court ultimately blocked the case noting it would cause “destruction of Oklahomans’ freedom to practice religion without the fear of governmental intervention.”
The case will likely come before the conservative-leaning court in April 2025 with a decision expected in the summer. Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett is not taking partake in the case.
For more context on the matter please consider Bob Tuttle, David R. and Sherry Kirchner Berz Research Professor of Law and Religion. Tuttle has nearly three decades of teaching in Religion and Law and has co-authored numerous articles and reports in the fields of church-state law and legal ethics. Additionally, Tuttle serves as legal counsel, a consultant, and a Senior Fellow for organizations throughout the country.
Tuttle has been quoted in a variety of publications to discuss similar matters over the years. Tuttle and colleague, Ira C Lupu co-authored in scholarly journal in 2023, The Remains of the Establishment Clause, “We show how a Free Exercise-based conception of religious distinctiveness generates significant advantages for religious individuals (including staff in public schools) and institutions while simultaneously insulating them from state control. Government, once subject to a distinctive limitation on promoting or sponsoring religion, now must afford religion distinctive privileges.”
If you would like to speak with Professor Bob Tuttle, please contact GW Media Relations Specialist Shannon Mitchell at [email protected].
-GW-
