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Ohio Library's Meeting Room Rules Enjoined

By Howard M. Friedman

In Citizens for Community Values v. Upper Arlington Public Library Board of Trustees, (SD OH, Aug. 14, 2008), an Ohio federal district court found unconstitutional a public library's policy of making its meeting rooms available for a wide variety of meetings by non-profit groups, but barring their use for elements of meetings that are quintessentially religious or are inherent elements of a religious service. Finding that the library had turned its meeting rooms into designate public forums, the court held that plaintiff's proposed program on Politics and the Pulpit was consistent with activities permitted by the library, even though it included prayer. In concluding that it would issue a permanent injunction, the court said it was not expressing view on the Library's policy of excluding use of meeting rooms for religious services. Yesterday's Columbus Dispatch reports on the decision, as does a release from Alliance Defense Fund. (See prior related posting.)

Full post as published by Religion Clause on August 15, 2008 (boomark / email).