Catholic Schools Can Challenge Athletic Competition Rule Change

The Ohio Supreme Court in a 5-2 decision in Ohio High School Athletic Association v. Ruehlman, (OH Sup. Ct., July 16, 2019), allowed a trial court judge to move ahead with a challenge brought by Catholic high schools to a rule change by the Ohio High School Athletic Association.  The rule change which relates to the division to which a school is assigned for post-season competition is designed to adjust for the purported advantage that private schools have by reason of their ability to enroll students from wider geographic areas than public schools.  A Catholic school and the athletic conference to which it belongs sought to enjoin application of the new rule. The Ohio High School Athletic Association here sought unsuccessfully to prevent the suit from moving forward.  AP reports on the decision. [Thanks to Tom Rutledge for the lead.]