Legal News

Judge rules math teacher's God banners aren't religious

By Jason Siegel

School officials shouldn't have made a San Diego math teacher take down his 7-foot long God banners, a federal judge ruled on Friday.

School officials argued that Brad Johnson's banners were theistic and thus in conflict with the public school's non-religious mission and opening the school up to lawsuits from students and faculty. the San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

Benitez disagreed, finding that the banners aren't religious but "highlight historic and patriotic themes that in themselves have acknowledged God's existence."

The five banners read "In God We Trust," "God She His Grace On Thee", "All Men Are Created Equal, They Are Endowed By Their Creator," "One Nation Under God," "God Bless America," the North County Times reported (here).

Picture: Johnson with four of his banners

Benitez didn't specify any action to be taken on the teacher or the banners as he rejected a motion to dismiss the lawsuit.

The school board hasn't decided yet whether to appeal or settle. The lawyer for the teacher told the NC Times that he'd settle if the banners can go back up and the district pays $30,000 in legal fees.

Full post as published by Legal Pad | LA on September 10, 2008 (boomark / email).