Pepperdine Caruso Regulation’s newly-established Hugh and Hazel Darling Basis Non secular Liberty Clinic filed an amicus temporary on March 2 at the US Supreme Courtroom in help of Coach Joseph Kennedy’s enchantment towards Bremerton Faculty District. The pal of the courtroom temporary was submitted on behalf of nationwide veterans’ group The American Legion. Kennedy, an assistant highschool soccer coach, was fired by the Seattle-area college district as a result of he engaged in non-public prayer on the soccer discipline after video games. The Clinic’s temporary argues that the First Modification protects the precise of presidency workers to interact in private prayer in public locations.
The temporary was drafted partly by Caruso Regulation third-year college students Anne McCarthy and Seth Shepherd, together with attorneys from international regulation agency Jones Day, together with Noel Francisco, former Solicitor Normal of the US.
“It has been a privilege attending to work with and be taught from the attorneys at Jones Day,” mentioned McCarthy. “I’m glad that we may do our half to guard a strong position for non secular expression within the public sq..”
“Engaged on this temporary has been one of many highlights of my schooling at Pepperdine,” mentioned Shepherd. “I’m proud that now we have been capable of make a distinction on such an vital case, and as somebody set to grow to be a Marine Corps Decide Advocate after commencement, I’m significantly proud that the clinic is representing the American Legion.”
“Soccer fields usually are not religion-free zones,” mentioned Eric Rassbach, visiting professor at Pepperdine and inaugural govt director of the clinic. “The varsity district acquired the Structure precisely backwards by banning prayer as a substitute of permitting it because the First Modification requires. We hope the Supreme Courtroom throws the yellow flag on this flagrantly unconstitutional conduct.”
That is the primary temporary filed by the brand new clinic at Pepperdine Caruso Regulation, established in January 2022 with the assistance of a transformational reward from the Hugh and Hazel Darling Basis. As a part of the college’s Nootbaar Institute for Regulation, Faith, and Ethics, the Non secular Liberty Clinic explores enduring questions regarding how civil governments deal with the non secular beliefs, expressions, and establishments of their residents and residents. “Religion is on the very core of Pepperdine’s mission,” mentioned Dean Paul Caron. “The brand new Non secular Liberty Clinic is a pure extension of our work, and empowers us to make a fair better affect with our college and college students in issues of religion and the regulation.”
Rassbach, vice chairman and senior counsel on the Becket Fund for Non secular Liberty, serves because the inaugural college director of the clinic, becoming a member of Caruso Regulation’s Brenden Mann Basis Chair in Regulation and Faith, Professor Michael Helfand, in conducting the seminar-style course. College students enrolled within the clinic have the chance to take part in advocacy in issues of non secular freedom, working in pairs below the supervision of attorneys from Jones Day.
The amicus temporary was written by Jones Day attorneys Noel Francisco, David Raimer, Christopher DiPompeo, and Andrew Clopton, together with Rassbach, McCarthy and Shepherd. “I’m extremely happy with our college students’ work and excited for the chance they should not solely collaborate with the unbelievable workforce at Jones Day, but additionally to weigh in on such vital circumstances centered on the crossroads of regulation and religion,” mentioned Helfand.
Joseph A. Kennedy vs. Bremerton Faculty District can be argued on the Supreme Courtroom in April. The Courtroom’s opinion on the case is anticipated by the tip of June.
The Pepperdine Caruso Regulation temporary could also be learn at Non secular Liberty Clinic amicus temporary.
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