[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 600 Introduced in House (IH)]







109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 600

  Calling on the Board of Directors of the National High School Mock 
  Trial Championship to accommodate students of all religious faiths.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           December 14, 2005

   Mr. Rothman (for himself and Mr. Ramstad) submitted the following 
 resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the 
                               Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Calling on the Board of Directors of the National High School Mock 
  Trial Championship to accommodate students of all religious faiths.

Whereas religious intolerance and discrimination continue to be the root causes 
        of many of the conflicts around the world;
Whereas the United States of America was founded by those seeking to practice 
        their religion freely, and the American justice system, including all 
        legal professionals involved, should be working to uphold this 
        principle;
Whereas the First Amendment to the Constitution states that ``Congress shall 
        make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the 
        free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the 
        press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition 
        the Government for a redress of grievances'';
Whereas section 1 of the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution states, ``All 
        persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the 
        jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State 
        wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall 
        abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; 
        nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, 
        without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its 
        jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.'';
Whereas the National High School Mock Trial Championship has been, until this 
        date, a prestigious event that requires a tremendous amount of 
        preparation, skill, and dedication on behalf of those students who are 
        competing, and is looked upon with distinction by institutions of higher 
        learning;
Whereas the National High School Mock Trial Championship is a program based on 
        constitutional law;
Whereas the sponsor of this year's competition stated that, ``The National High 
        School Mock Trial Championship is a participatory program that engages 
        students, legal professionals and the educational community to advance 
        the understanding of the American justice system and the important role 
        of lawyers. A well-educated public translates into a more engaged 
        citizenry that is better equipped and more interested in fulfilling 
        their civic responsibilities'';
Whereas the National High School Mock Trial Championship espouses the goals of 
        heightening ``appreciation of the principle of equal justice for all'' 
        and promoting the ``exchange of ideas among students from throughout the 
        United States'';
Whereas the usual National High School Mock Trial Championship schedule consists 
        of two rounds on Friday and two rounds on Saturday, followed by a 
        Championship round on Saturday;
Whereas the Torah Academy of Bergen County of Teaneck, New Jersey, won the 2005 
        New Jersey State Bar Foundation High School tournament, and was eligible 
        to compete in the National High School Mock Trial Championship;
Whereas the members of the mock trial team from Torah Academy observe the 
        Sabbath, in accordance with their practice of Orthodox Judaism, and 
        would not have been able to participate in any National High School Mock 
        Trial Championship competitions from sundown on Friday through sundown 
        on Saturday without certain accommodations;
Whereas satisfactory accommodations were made to allow Torah Academy of Teaneck, 
        New Jersey, to compete during the last National High School Mock Trial 
        Championship held in Charlotte, North Carolina, from May 5-7, 2005, 
        without violating the religious practices of the students;
Whereas a review of the post-host report compiled after the 2005 Championship 
        showed a majority of the comments supported the accommodations made for 
        the Torah Academy students and the benefit of competing with the Torah 
        Academy students;
Whereas one respondent replied, ``the compromise demonstrated fairness, 
        tolerance and problem-solving, all values that I try to encourage in my 
        students'';
Whereas the Board of Directors of the National High School Mock Trial 
        Championship voted on October 15, 2005, to refuse any future 
        accommodations for students who observe Sabbath on Friday and/or 
        Saturday;
Whereas students who have otherwise met all of the criteria to participate in 
        the qualifying competitions leading to the National High School Mock 
        Trial Championship should be able to compete regardless of their 
        religious affiliation;
Whereas the Board of Trustees of the New Jersey State Bar Foundation unanimously 
        voted at its October 27, 2005, meeting that New Jersey will not compete 
        in the National High School Mock Trial Championship unless the National 
        Board establishes a policy permitting accommodation for religious 
        observance;
Whereas the decision of the Board of Directors of the National High School Mock 
        Trial Championship to refuse any future accommodations for students who 
        observe their Sabbath on Friday and/or Saturday adversely and wrongly 
        impacts observant Jewish, Muslim, and Seventh-Day Adventist students;
Whereas the decision made by the Board of Directors of the National High School 
        Mock Trial Championship is inconsistent with the spirit of freedom of 
        religion or equal protection; and
Whereas all students should be allowed to both compete fully in the National 
        High School Mock Trial Championship and uphold the practice of their 
        religion: Now therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) calls on the Board of Directors of the National High 
        School Mock Trial Championship to accommodate the religious 
        beliefs of students participating in the competition; and
            (2) urges the Board of Directors of the National High 
        School Mock Trial Championship to restructure the rules of the 
        competition to allow qualifying students of all faiths to 
        compete fully in this national championship without betraying 
        their religious beliefs.
                                 <all>