The Pine Bluff (AK) Commercial yesterday reported on the decision. (See prior related posting.)in determining that an election was required under the 1989 bylaws and in supervising that election when the temple members proved incapable of conducting it on their own, the circuit court and its special master did not delve into matters that were essentially religious in nature, but rather applied neutral principles of law concerning election procedures.
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Friday, March 07, 2008
Arkansas Supreme Court Upholds Judicial Supervision of Buddhist Temple Election
Yesterday in Viravonga v. Wat Buddha Samakitham, (AK Sup. Ct., March 6, 2008), the Arkansas Supreme Court upheld a Circuit Court's order growing out of its supervision of a disputed election for the Board of Directors of a Buddhist Temple. Among other things, the Circuit Court determined a list of eligible voters and concluded that the Buddhist temple was non-denominational and not affiliated with the Dhammayut denomination. Affirming, the Supreme Court said: