Jewish Law - Legal Briefs ("Agostini v. Felton")

Jewish Law - Examining Halacha, Jewish Issues and Secular Law

Agostini v. Felton
Supreme Court of the United States (1996)

Nos. 96-552 and 96-553

In The
Supreme Court of the United States
October Term, 1996

RACHEL AGOSTINI, ET AL.

Petitioner,

BETTY-LOUISE FELTON, ET AL.

Respondents.

CHANCELLOR OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK, ET AL.

Petitioner,

BETTY-LOUISE FELTON, ET AL.

Respondents.

On Petition for a Writ of Certiorari
to the United States Court of Appeals
for the Second Circuit

BRIEF OF THE NATIONAL JEWISH COMMISSION
ON LAW AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS ("COLPA") AS
AMICUS CURIAE IN SUPPORT OF PETITIONERS

INTEREST OF THE AMICUS CURIAE The amici are national organizations that represent the American Orthodox Jewish community. We have consistently supported the principle of fair and even-handed treatment for children who attend religious schools and for the parents who are obligated, for reasons of conscience, to enroll their children in such schools. The National Jewish Commission on Law and Public Affairs ("COLPA") is an organization of volunteer lawyers and social scientists that advocates the position of the Orthodox Jewish community on legal issues affecting religious rights and liberties in the United States. COLPA has filed amicus briefs on behalf of these children and parents in numerous cases considered by this Court, including Board of Education v. Allen, 392 U.S. 236 (1968); Lemon v. Kurtzman, 403 U.S. 602 (1971); and, of course, Aguilar v. Felton, 473 U.S. 402 (1985).

The individual organizations represented by COLPA are:

(1) Agudath Harabonim of the United States and Canada is the oldest Orthodox rabbinical organization in the United States. Its membership includes leading scholars and sages, and it is involved with educational, social and legal issues significant to the Jewish community.

(2) Agudath Israel of America is a national Orthodox Jewish public interest organization with chapters in numerous Jewish communities throughout the United States and Canada. It is dedicated to advancing Jewish social, religious and educational concerns.

(3) National Council of Young Israel is a coordinating body for more than 300 Orthodox synagogue branches in the United States and Israel. It is involved in matters of social and legal significance to the Orthodox Jewish community.

(4) The Rabbinical Alliance of America is an Orthodox Jewish rabbinical organization with more than 400 members. It has for many years been involved in a variety of religious, social and educational areas affecting Orthodox Jews.

(5) The Rabbinical Council of America is the largest Orthodox Jewish rabbinical organization in the world. Its membership exceeds one thousand rabbis, and it is deeply involved in issues related to religious freedom.

(6) Torah Umesorah-National Society of Hebrew Day Schools is the coordinating body for more than 600 Jewish Day Schools across the United States.

(7) The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America (the "U.O.J.C.A.") is the largest Orthodox Jewish synagogue organization in North America with over one thousand member congregations. Through its Institute for Public Affairs, the U.O.J.C.A. represents the interests of its national constituency on public policy issues.

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