In December 2004, the ACLU-PA sued the Dover Area School District on behalf of eleven parents who objected to the recent policy that required the teaching of intelligent design in biology classes as an alternative to evolution. We allege that intelligent design is stealth creationism and, therefore, teaching a religious doctrine in science class violates the Establishment Clause.

The six-week trial concluded on November 4, 2005. On December 20, 2006, Judge John E. Jones II issued a blistering 139-page opinion in which he found intelligent design to be a religious view and not a scientific theory.

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Attorney(s)

Eric Rothschild, Stephen Harvey, Thomas Schmidt, & Alfred Wilcox (Pepper Hamilton); Richard Katskee & Alex Luchenitser (Americans United for Separation of Church and State); Vic Walczak & Paula Knudsen (ACLU of PA)

Date filed

December 14, 2004

Court

Middle District - Pennsylvania

Status

Closed