Christian Group Lacks Standing To Vacate Florida School's Consent Decree

A Florida federal district judge has largely rejected an attempt by the Christian Educators Association International to challenge the high profile and contentious consent decree entered into in March by the Santa Rosa County Florida school board to settle litigation brought by the ACLU challenging religious practices in the county's schools. (See prior posting.) In Minor Doe I v. School Board for Santa Rosa County, Florida, (ND FL, Oct 30, 2009), the court held that Christian Educators lacks standing to seek to totally vacate the consent decree because neither the organization nor its members suffered a legal injury that would be remedied by permitting the schools to again violate the Establishment Clause. The court postponed for a hearing next month the question of whether the organization could show it has standing to seek a modification of the consent decree on the ground that it impacts the free speech or free exercise rights of teachers or employees. Today's Pensacola News-Journal reports on the court's decision.