Judge Says Dover School Board Elections Won’t Sway Intelligent Design Ruling

November 17, 2005

Source: Beliefnet

Wire Service: AP

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/178/story_17882_1.html

On November 17, 2005 the Associated Press reported, "A federal judge says a Pennsylvania school district's dispute over intelligent design doesn't end with the Election Day ouster of eight school board members. The federal court battle between the Dover Area School district and 11 parents opposed to the required reading of a statement on intelligent design to science students has yet to be resolved. The election results 'will have absolutely no effect on what I do -- zero,' U.S. Middle District Judge John E. Jones said [on] Wednesday (Nov. 9). Jones, who finished hearing six weeks of testimony last week, has said he might rule by year's end... The school board last fall voted to require that a statement saying evolution is not a fact and referring to intelligent design as an alternative explanation of the origin of life be read to students embarking on an evolution unit in science class. It was read to students in January, and the parents sued in federal court, claiming a violation of the constitutional separation of church and state. Eight of the school board's nine seats were on Tuesday's general election."