Law Schools
Chemerinsky Represents Teacher Who Called Creationism ‘Nonsense’
Posted Oct 27, 2009, 10:36 am CST
By Debra Cassens Weiss
The dean of the University of California’s newest law school is representing a California high school teacher who called Creationism “religious, superstitious nonsense.”
Law dean Erwin Chemerinsky of the UC Irvine law school is one of four lawyers representing history teacher James Corbett as he appeals a ruling that his comment violated a student's First Amendment rights, the Orange County Register reports. U.S. District Judge James Selna had ruled the Creationism comment violated the establishment clause, but the Mission Viejo teacher was immune from liability, the Orange County Register reported in an earlier story.
The student who filed the suit, Chad Farnan, is represented by Advocates for Faith & Freedom. Farnan is also appealing. He contends 21 other statements made by Corbett are also First Amendment violations, and Corbett should not be immune from liability.
Lawyers for both sides are working pro bono on the constitutional issues.