Texas judge rules for cheerleaders in Bible banner verse suit

AUSTIN, Texas – A judge stopped an East Texas school district on Thursday from barring cheerleaders from quoting Bible verses on banners at high school football games, saying the policy appears to violate their free speech rights.
District Judge Steve Thomas granted an injunction requested by the Kountze High School cheerleaders allowing them to continue displaying religious-themed banners pending the outcome of a lawsuit set to go to trial next June 24, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott said. Thomas previously granted a temporary restraining order allowing the practice to continue.
School officials barred the cheerleaders from displaying banners with religious messages such as, "If God is for us, who can be against us," after the Freedom From Religion Foundation complained. The advocacy group says the messages violate the First Amendment clause barring the government -- or a publicly funded school district, in this case -- from establishing or endorsing a religion.
Republican Gov. Rick Perry and Abbott spoke out in support of the cheerleaders on Wednesday. Perry appointed Thomas to fill a vacancy on the 356th District Court, and he is running for election to continue in the post as a Republican.
Abbott also filed court papers to intervene in the lawsuit and sent state attorneys to support the cheerleaders' position that the district's ban violated their free speech rights. The Texas Education Code also states that schools must respect the rights of students to express their religious beliefs.
"It is the individual speech of the cheerleaders and not in fact the government speaking," David Starnes, the cheerleaders' attorney said, according to KDFM television. "It is not just one girl or one person in the group that comes up with the quote, but it's on a rotating basis that each girl gets to pick the quote. That is their individual voices that are being portrayed on the banner."

Read reast of story here: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/10/18/judge-expected-to-rule-in-texas-cheerleader-bible-verse-banner-suit/?test=latestnews

For more info about this Kountze situation, see these Previous Articles:

Judge's Decision Allows Kountze Cheerleaders to Hold Signs with Bible Verses at Football Game/Rally Friday Oct 5th

Urgent: Support Kountze Kids Faith - Texas Students Fighting for Religious Freedom

Congressman Stockman and Rep. White Support Kountze Kids Faith - Liberty Institute & CLA Send Lawyers

Judge Says Kountze Students ALLOWED to Hold Religious Signs. Restraining Order by Judge Steve Thomas

Student Disciplined for Bible Verse on Face at West Hardin ISD TX Football Game

TX AG Greg Abbott Supports Kountze Cheerleaders Banned from Holding Religious Banners

Kountze Kids Get Support from Barry Smitherman Texas Railroad Commission Chairman

Rep. James White Tells TASB: "Unwarranted" to Ban Religious Student Banners - Letter to Texas Association of School Boards - James Crow

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Judge's Decision Allows Kountze Cheerleaders to Hold Signs with Bible Verses at Football Game/Rally Friday Oct 5th

Steve Thomas, Texas State District Judge in Hardin County, has extended his temporary restraining order for 2 more weeks. This extension allows Students in Kountze ISD the ability to hold personally made signs at public school events, even if the signs have Bible Verses or religious encouragements. Judge Thomas had previously granted a temporary restraining order in favor of the cheerleaders who were banned from holding signs or banners at Football games if they contained anything religious on them.

This extra extension was granted so that, before he makes his decision, Judge Thomas can thoroughly review documents submitted by both sides. The Liberty Institute's Mike Johnson, is representing the students. There was even a brief submitted to Judge Thomas from influential Texas authority, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott. Abbott took the side of the cheerleaders and said that State Law, the Texas Constitution, and past Court Rulings protect the religious rights of these kids. Abbott went even further to say that the Freedom from Religion Foundation (FFRF) was trying to just stir up trouble and has tried to do this in Texas before but has failed. Other Texas Republicans have stood up and expressed support for these students including Congressman Steve Stockman, State Rep. James White, State Board of Education Member David Bradley, and Railroad Commissioner Barry Smitherman.

Before Judge Thomas granted the extension on the restraining order today, the Superintendent testified that he had acted on bad advice from the school lawyers in banning the signs. The Superintendent, Kevin Weldon, went on to say that he now believes that his decision banning these signs not only violates district policy, but also the rights of the students.

There is a big RALLY tomorrow, Oct 5th 2012 7:30pm at the Kountze High School Football game in Kountze, TX.

Come out to Support the Kountze Kids!

There are thousands of people from everywhere expected to come to this game and hold signs supporting these students and their religious rights.

This will be the first home game since the school district superintendent banned the cheerleaders from holding their signs. This restraining order allows students at this game to hold signs with Bible verses and other religious encouragements.

Show support for this rally on facebook! Go to the rally facebook event page HERE http://www.facebook.com/events/105912862899560/ and click like or click join to tell everyone that you are going and to invite other people to join

also, for more info about the rally: www.SupportKountzeKidsFaith.com

for more info about the Kountze Situation, check out these articles:

Urgent: Support Kountze Kids Faith - Texas Students Fighting for Religious Freedom

Congressman Stockman and Rep. White Support Kountze Kids Faith - Liberty Institute & CLA Send Lawyers

Judge Says Kountze Students ALLOWED to Hold Religious Signs. Restraining Order by Judge Steve Thomas