OK Charter School Board v. Drummond
Headline: Affirms lower-court ruling by an equally divided Court, leaving Oklahoma’s highest-court decision intact in a dispute between a statewide charter school board and a Catholic virtual school.
Holding:
- Leaves the Oklahoma Supreme Court’s decision in place for the parties.
- Resolves the dispute for these parties without a majority U.S. Supreme Court opinion.
Summary
Background
A statewide charter school board and a Catholic virtual school were involved in separate cases that reached the U.S. Supreme Court after decisions from Oklahoma’s highest court. The Attorney General of Oklahoma was the state actor named in the cases, and the Court agreed to review the state-court rulings.
Reasoning
The opinion issued in these consolidated cases is a short per curiam statement that the judgment is affirmed by an equally divided Court. The opinion does not publish a majority explanation of the legal issues; instead, the Court’s tie results in an affirmance of the lower-court outcome without a reported majority rationale.
Real world impact
Because the Court was evenly split, the Oklahoma Supreme Court’s decision remains in effect for the parties in these cases. The ruling resolves the dispute as to these parties but does not provide a new, binding national opinion from the U.S. Supreme Court that would guide other courts. The short order also notes that one Justice, Justice Barrett, did not take part in the consideration or decision.
Dissents or concurrances
No separate majority, concurring, or dissenting opinions are published in this short per curiam opinion; Justice Barrett is recorded as not participating in these decisions.
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