110 HRES 25 EH: Calling on the Board of Directors of the
U.S. House of Representatives
2007-09-25
text/xml
EN
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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 the 2005 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 on January 6, 2006, the North Carolina Academy of
Trial Lawyers also officially withdrew from participating in the National High
School Mock Trial Championship because the National Board would not make
changes to the competition’s schedule to accommodate students with religious
restrictions;
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
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.
Lorraine C. Miller,
Clerk.