Bible course mediator

A Dallas attorney has been chosen to mediate a federal lawsuit over the Ector County Independent School District’s Bible curriculum.

Hesha Abrams, of Abrams Mediation & Negotiation Inc. in Dallas, was recently chosen to mediate the case, Nicole Hay, media and communications director for Liberty Legal Institute said.

Earlier this year, ECISD trustees approved the institute to represent it in the suit.

Eight parents filed a federal lawsuit against ECISD in May calling for officials to do away with the district’s Bible course — implemented in August 2006 — on the grounds that it violates individual religious liberties.

The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Texas, People for the American Way Foundation and national law firm Jenner & Block LLP filed the suit on behalf of the parents who say they don’t agree with how the course is taught.

In November, U.S. District Judge Rob Junell required the defendants and plaintiffs to go to mediation by Feb. 1 — with both choosing a mediator by Dec. 1.

Also in November, Junell said both sides seemed open to mediation, and he required the plaintiffs and defendants to name experts and discovery phase date cutoffs at a later time. In addition, Junell moved the trial date from an April proceeding to a July 28 court date.

According to Abrams’ website, the formal trial lawyer specializes in “complex, multi-party, intellectual property and commercial cases.”