Both Sides Appeal Suit Against History Teacher For Anti-Religious Remarks

Both sides have filed appeals with the 9th Circuit in C.F. v. Capistrano Unified School District, the case in which California high school student Chad Farnan and his parents sued history teacher James Corbett for making remarks hostile to religion. A California federal district court found that one of the teacher's comments-- calling Creationism "superstitious nonsense"-- violated the Establishment Clause. However, Farnan was denied any relief on the claims. (See prior posting.) Yesterday's Orange County Register reports that teacher Jame Corbett's appellate team includes nationally renowned constitutional scholar Erwin Chemerinsky who is dean of UC Irvine School of Law. Corbett's 4-person team will represent him pro bono.