OKLAHOMA CITY (KSWO) – Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt has filed an amicus brief with the United States Supreme Court in favor of Catholic virtual charter school St. Isidore.

An amicus brief, also known as a “friend of the court”, is written by individuals and groups who are not directly parties to a legal case, but who wish to assist a court in making a decision.

Essentially, amicus briefs are written to allow the court to interject a certain way of thinking in an attempt to influence their decision.

In June, the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled on the contract between the state of Oklahoma and the charter school, which made St. Isidore the first publicly funded religious school in the country. to be unconstitutional.

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond filed a lawsuit against the contract.

When Oklahoma’s highest court handed down its decision, Drummond said it was a victory.

“This decision is a tremendous victory for religious freedom,” Drummond said in a statement sent to 7News. “The framers of the U.S. Constitution and the framers of the Oklahoma Constitution clearly understood how best to protect religious freedom: by preventing the state from sponsoring any religion.”

Now, the US Supreme Court could hear the case on appeal.

Gov. Kevin Stitt supported the Catholic school contract and has now written a Supreme Court brief arguing why it should be upheld as constitutional.

“Governor Stitt is committed to ensuring that all Oklahoma parents, regardless of religious affiliation, have access to a diverse range of high-quality schooling options that allow them to make choices based on what is best for their children. .. Governor Stitt is compelled to speak for the people of Oklahoma through this Brief because the Oklahoma Attorney General has deprived them of true counsel by launching this attack on their religious and educational freedom,” the brief reads in part.

You can read Governor Stitt’s full summary below:

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