Supreme Court Deadlocks on Oklahoma Religious Charter

The U.S. Supreme Court's 4-4 split decision left in place lower court rulings blocking the establishment of St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School in Oklahoma, which would have been the nation's first taxpayer-funded religious charter school. Justice Amy Coney Barrett recused herself due to personal ties to Notre Dame Law School, which represents the school's organizers. The Oklahoma Supreme Court had previously ruled that funding a religious charter school would violate both state and federal constitutional provisions prohibiting government endorsement of religion. Proponents argued that excluding religious schools from charter programs is discriminatory, while opponents warned it would undermine the separation of church and state. The Supreme Court's deadlock means the issue remains unresolved on a national level, potentially setting the stage for future cases. The case underscores ongoing debates over religious liberty and public education in the U.S.