Court Reinstates Religious Discrimination Lawsuit

A Minnesota judge has reinstated five candidates for the Benson School Board and additional candidates for the Kerkhoven city council to the November ballot after they were previously removed due to filing errors. Judge Allison Whalen's ruling overturned the Minnesota Secretary of State's Office decision, ordering new ballots to be printed with the candidates' names included. Meanwhile, in Colorado, a U.S. Appeals Court has allowed former assistant principal Corey McNellis to pursue his religious discrimination lawsuit against Douglas County School District after he was fired for making 'religious comments' regarding a school play about the murder of Matthew Shepard. The court found that McNellis provided sufficient circumstantial evidence to support his claims of discrimination based on his religious beliefs, despite previously being dismissed by a lower court. However, the appellate panel upheld the dismissal of his claims regarding First Amendment violations and retaliation. The case spotlights tensions between personal beliefs and school policies on sensitive topics.