In an amicus brief filed on behalf of clients Great Hearts Academies and Texas Leadership Schools, Shutts & Bowen LLP partners Denise Harle and Nicholas J.P. Meros, as well as attorney Kassandra Reardon, joined a broad coalition, including the U.S. Solicitor General’s Office, 12 states, and a broad cross-section of educational and non-profit organizations, supporting the petitioners in the Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board v. Drummond case currently pending at the U.S. Supreme Court.

The case involves a dispute over the Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board's decision to allow St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School to join the state's charter school program, a decision that was challenged by Oklahoma's Attorney General. To reach its holding against St. Isidore’s application, the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled charter schools to be state actors, when by design and practice they are private actors, authorized to deliver the public good of high-quality education. This important issue is now on appeal before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Shutts provided pro bono representation to its charter school clients, whose fundamental liberties may be at stake in this significant case involving religious exercise, educational freedom, and parental choice. The amicus brief argues that the charter-school clients’ position aligns with U.S. Supreme Court precedent on religious inclusion in public programs.

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Shutts & Bowen LLP, established in 1910, is a full-service business law firm with approximately 280 lawyers in offices in Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, Sarasota, Tallahassee, Tampa and West Palm Beach.  Learn more about Shutts & Bowen at www.shutts.com.