COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A public school science instructor who
was fired for refusing to remove religious materials from his classroom
has petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to review a state court’s
decision to uphold his dismissal.
John Freshwater’s attorney, Rita
Dunaway, confirmed Tuesday the high court has been asked to consider
First Amendment issues in the case.
A divided Ohio Supreme Court
ruled in November the Mount Vernon school district had grounds to fire
Freshwater in 2011 for insubordination for keeping religious books and a
poster of a praying president. But it concluded the district infringed
on Freshwater’s First Amendment rights by ordering the removal of his
personal Bible from his desk.
In January, the court denied Freshwater’s request that it reconsider its decision.
Dunaway says the case’s "most significant constitutional issues" haven’t been addressed.
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights
reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or
redistributed.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A public school science instructor who
was fired for refusing to remove religious materials from his classroom
has petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to review a state court’s
decision to uphold his dismissal.
John Freshwater’s attorney, Rita
Dunaway, confirmed Tuesday the high court has been asked to consider
First Amendment issues in the case.
A divided Ohio Supreme Court
ruled in November the Mount Vernon school district had grounds to fire
Freshwater in 2011 for insubordination for keeping religious books and a
poster of a praying president. But it concluded the district infringed
on Freshwater’s First Amendment rights by ordering the removal of his
personal Bible from his desk.
In January, the court denied Freshwater’s request that it reconsider its decision.
Dunaway says the case’s "most significant constitutional issues" haven’t been addressed.
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights
reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or
redistributed.