Governor Kevin Stitt, over 50 elected officials, scholars, ‘think tanks’ and others file briefs in Support of St. Isidore
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Caroline Molloy
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Oklahoma City — On Tuesday, March 18, Governor Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma announced, in a press release sent to news organizations world-wide, that he “proudly stood with over fifty elected officials, religious organizations, educational institutions, and research organizations in support of the Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board and St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Charter School.”
“Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board v. Drummond,” which is set to be heard before the United States Supreme Court, will decide if a religious charter school –- in this case, St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School –- can be made available to all students with public funds under the First Amendment.
The individuals and organizations listed below have submitted amicus briefs in support of religious and education freedom. A brief summary of their varied positions in friend of the court briefs , all in support of the legality of Saint Isidore, is provided after the name of the group of person.
A link is provided to each legal brief referenced. Here are excerpts from the briefs:
Oklahoma Governor J. Kevin Stitt
“The State of Oklahoma is steadfast in her support of religious liberty for all and an innovative educational system that expands choice for all. For over 30 years, Oklahoma Governors have supported parental school choice. The reason is simple: Oklahoma’s greatest asset isn’t our oil and gas – it’s not our football teams – it’s not the aerospace and defense industry. It’s our kids.”
S. Ernie Walton, Associate Dean, Assistant Professor at Regent University School of Law
“In other words, the state acted on behalf of parents in educating their children, and only if and when the parents chose to send their children to public school could the state play a role in their education.”
National Religious Broadcasters
“This Court has firmly shut the door on the idea that discrimination against religious individuals or organizations may be justified by pointing to the Establishment Clause. That door should remain tightly closed.”
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
“It is hard to buy that the architects of Oklahoma’s constitution were driven by a desire to completely separate religion and schooling, as the view that religion had no place at all in schools had not yet taken hold.”
Wolff Family
“This case is important to every parent who cares to assert their right to determine and choose to educate their children whether by homeschool, virtual school, 3 public, private or parochial school, including how they deem what they believe is right even from a religious or sectarian view.”
The Manhattan Institute
The Oklahoma Supreme Court’s gross misapplication of state-action doctrine contradicts decades of precedent and expands the doctrine beyond its breaking point. If not corrected, that analysis would also endanger many vital public services provided by religious charitable groups and undermine this Court’s recent free-exercise jurisprudence.
( https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/24/24-394/351747/20250311114830228_Drummond%20merits.pdf )
