22-05-2025
Deadlocked Supreme Court means Oklahoma can't establish religious school
Oklahoma can't establish the nation's first publicly-funded religious school after the U.S. Supreme Court deadlocked 4-4 Thursday.
Why it matters: The tie means the Oklahoma Supreme Court's finding that establishing the school would violate both the state and U.S. Constitutions will stand.
Justice Amy Coney-Barrett recused herself from the case.
The Supreme Court's two-line opinion did not detail how the remaining eight justices voted.
Catch up quick: Oklahoma's Statewide Virtual Charter School Board narrowly voted to approve the St. Isidore of Seville Virtual Charter School in 2023.
The Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma had submitted an application for the online K-12 public charter school, which would teach the Catholic faith.
The Oklahoma attorney general had sued to block the school, arguing it violated both state and federal law.
The state Supreme Court agreed, ruling, "This State's establishment of a religious charter school violates Oklahoma statutes, the Oklahoma Constitution, and the Establishment Clause."
The intrigue: When the case reached the U.S. Supreme Court in April, the conservative majority appeared open to allowing the school — except Chief Justice John Roberts, who expressed hesitancy.
