Jewish Students' Treatment Sparks Lawsuit, Resignation

[Mr. Ected]

A member of the State Bar of Georgia board resigned Wednesday over the treatment of a team of Jewish students in a national mock trial competition in Atlanta. The team won’t compete Saturday because of religious restrictions, and the national event’s organizer will not rearrange the schedule to accommodate it.

The state bar is the local sponsor, abiding by the High School Mock Trial Championship’s rules. “I felt I could not serve on a board that was not dealing with the situation appropriately,” said Elizabeth Price, who resigned from the state bar board. She also is chairman of the Southeast regional office of the Anti-Defamation League, which fights anti-Semitism.

State high school champions from across the U.S. came to Atlanta this week for the round-robin mock trial tournament. The Massachusetts team from Maimonidies School, an Orthodox Jewish high school, won’t compete on Saturday, their sabbath, because their faith forbids to them work then. It had petitioned the national championship and the State Bar of Georgia to rearrange the schedule so it could compete on Thursday and Friday. The national organization refused, saying that would give the team an unfair advantage and create scheduling problems.

Price said she felt the state bar could have taken steps to pressure the national organization. Parents of the team filed a religious discrimination claim with the U.S. Justice Department. The department sent a letter to the Georgia Administrative Office of the Courts, urging it to adhere to federal guidelines. But the Georgia office is not sponsoring or administering the competition. Fulton County courtrooms are being used, and state judges are volunteers at the trials.

[Howardx]

1. did the date of the contest change?

im curious why they signed up at all knowing this would be held on a saturday.

[Mr. Ected]

2. Having Competed In Debate Several Years In High School

I can assure you, the vast majority of these contests take place on Saturday, as a matter of course.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

3. this competition was at least happening on THUR and FRI

of the same week...

sP

[Mr. Ected]

4. I Believe It Was A Round Robin Competition

Meaning the semis and probably finals were to be held on Saturday. Just a guess.

Of course, there was no competition planned for Sunday.

[Howardx]

5. so...

they signed up knowing they wouldnt be able to compete and now want the rules changed to favor their particular myth's demands?

[Mr. Ected]

6. That Succinctly Pegs It.

Life ain't fair.

[Retrograde]

9. Thank you

We are in theory a secular society. Yes, the dominant religion is favored a lot but that doesn't make it right.

Rescheduling events is not always easy: sometimes you can't get another location at short notice. And even if you do, what happens if the new time and place aren't acceptable to another group? I agree with you: follow the dictums of your religious choice if you want, but don't expect the rest of the world to adapt to you.

[JuniperLea]

10. "don't expect the rest of the world to adapt to you"

That's all I ask... when people get pushy about it is when we start having serious problems.

[Ian David]

7. Amazingly, they NEVER plan that sort of thing for Sundays. Imagine THAT. n/t

[madaboutharry]

8. My thoughts as well.

n/t

[JuniperLea]

11. Seems to me...

Both days are fair game and should be utilized by all.