The U.S. Supreme Court has deadlocked over a case involving a proposed religious charter school in Oklahoma. This tie vote means a lower court’s decision will remain in place, which ruled against using government funds to support the St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School. The Oklahoma Supreme Court had previously blocked the funding, citing constitutional concerns about the separation of church and state.
The Supreme Court’s split leaves the door open for similar cases to arise in the future. Since there was no majority ruling, no new legal precedent has been established regarding the funding of charter schools, which are publicly funded but operate independently.
Typically, the Supreme Court has nine justices to avoid ties, but Justice Amy Coney Barrett recused herself from this case. It’s believed she stepped back to avoid a conflict of interest due to her close ties with a lawyer involved in the case. This absence led to a 4-4 split among the justices, with Chief Justice John Roberts likely siding with the three liberal justices against the funding.
The court’s announcement acknowledged Barrett’s recusal and confirmed that the judgment was affirmed by an evenly divided court. The current court leans conservative, but previous rulings have shown a willingness to expand religious freedoms, raising questions about what constitutes the establishment of religion under the Constitution.
The case began when the Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City applied to open a taxpayer-funded charter school that would include Catholic teachings. The initial proposal was voted down but was later approved by the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board. This sparked a legal battle, with opponents arguing it violated the separation of church and state, while supporters claimed it restricted religious freedom.
The Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled that the school would effectively become a state entity, as it would require public funding for religious instruction. This decision was pivotal in the court’s ruling against the school.
During the Supreme Court hearings, some justices expressed concern that denying funding to the religious school could be seen as discrimination against religion. Others warned that allowing such funding could lead to public schools becoming religious institutions, which could have broader implications for education across the country.
Following the Supreme Court’s tie, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) celebrated the outcome as a win for the separation of church and state. They argued that a religious public school contradicts the very principles of public education.
Proponents of the charter school, however, remain determined to continue their fight. They believe that more educational options are beneficial for families in Oklahoma. The debate over the funding of religious charter schools is likely to continue as both sides prepare for future legal challenges.