Cert. Filed In Refusal By State To Allow Church School To Participate In Playground Grant Program

A petition for certiorari (full text) was filed yesterday with the U.S. Supreme Court in Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia, Inc. v. Pauley.  In the case, the U.S. 8th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected arguments that Missouri's Blaine Amendments violate the free exercise, establishment and equal protection clauses of the federal Constitution. At issue was the refusal by Missouri's Department of Natural Resources of a grant application by Trinity Church for a Playground Scrap Tire Surface Material Grant that would allow it to resurface a playground at its day care and preschool facility on church premises. (See prior posting.) ADF issued a press release announcing the filing of the petition.