Free Bible defense

In a federal lawsuit of virtually biblical proportions, attorneys for the Ector County Independent School District swear the district won’t be billed for legal services.

The suit — filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and others — asks ECISD to abolish its Bible class because course material in the National Council on Bible Curriculum in Public Schools’ curriculum violates individual religious liberties.

ECISD’s board of trustees voted 6-0 May 21 to have Plano-based Liberty Legal Institute represent ECISD at no cost in a federal lawsuit over its Bible course.

The Liberty Legal Institute — a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1997 to deal with First Amendment rights and individual religious freedoms — offers legal services pro bono, or free of charge, to its clients, Hiram Sasser, litigation director for the Institute, said.

“Everything we do is going to be paid for by us,” Sasser said. “The district doesn’t have to pay a dime — nothing.”

The Institute became involved in the case, Sasser said, because it’s important to “level the playing field” between ECISD and the ACLU.

“Because one of the problems with the ACLU is they try to pick on communities they think they can push around,” Sasser said. “When the school district is in the right, and they are doing things in terms of the letter of the law, they shouldn’t be bullied by people riding into town like this.”

Lori White, a plaintiff in the case, said the ACLU was invited to Odessa by taxpayers and parents up in arms over ECISD’s curriculum and not the fact that the Bible was being taught.

“The ACLU’s not picking on anybody. The ACLU is trying to protect people’s rights under the Constitution,” White said.

White, who was named local ACLU chapter president in mid-May, said much like the Institute and ECISD, the ACLU pays for all the plaintiffs’ legal fees as well.

Meanwhile, Sasser didn’t say much about his visit Wednesday with ECISD clients — including Superintendent Wendell Sollis — to discuss the next move in the lawsuit.

“Obviously, this is an ongoing deal so I will be in town a lot and other lawyers will be, too,” Sasser said. “It’s just a matter of working on a response to the lawsuit.”

When he travels to Odessa from his office in Plano or stays in local lodging, the district doesn’t “pay a penny,” he said.

Sollis declined to comment about the recent meeting with Sasser,.

“I’m not going to discuss the lawsuit,” Sollis said.

ECISD attorney Mike Atkins said Randall Rouse of Lynch, Chappell & Alsup in Midland will serve as local counsel on the case and the Institute will also pay for their services.

Attempts to reach Rouse were unsuccessful Friday.

In addition, Atkins said according to an indemnity clause in the contract between ECISD and the National Council, the Council will make a payment to the district if the district loses the case.

Atkins said his firm, Atkins, Peacock & Lewis LLP, will assist ECISD in monitoring the case, but its role will be minimal.

ECISD Board President Randy Rives said he stands behind the board’s decision to have the Institute represent the trustees and Sollis in the case.

“We don’t think we are doing anything outside the parameters of what is legally our right to do,” Rives said. “That’s why the board voted to do what it did.”

BIBLE TIMELINE

>> April 26, 2005: ECISD’s board of trustees voted 6-0 to add a Bible elective for the 2006-’07 school year.

>> Oct. 18, 2005: ECISD formed a Bible Curriculum Committee of teachers and administrators to review possible curricula.

>> Nov. 10, 2005: The Bible Curriculum Committee held a public input meeting in which the majority of speakers favored the Bible Literacy Project.

>> Dec. 6, 2005: The Bible Curriculum Committee recommended both the Bible Literacy Project’s textbook and one by the National Council on Bible Curriculum in Public Schools.

>> Dec. 20, 2005: Trustees voted 4-2 to adopt the NCBCPS curriculum.

>> Aug. 14, 2006: ECISD implements the Bible classes at Odessa and Permian high schools.

>> May 16, 2007: The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Texas, People for the American Way Foundation and national law firm Jenner & Block LLP filed a federal lawsuit in Midland on behalf of eight parents and taxpayers stating the Bible course violates individual religious liberties.

>> May 21, 2007: ECISD trustees voted 6-0 to have Plano-based Liberty Legal Institute represent the school district at no cost.