Heather Rooks, an elected member of the Peoria Unified School District Governing Board, has filed a federal lawsuit against the district after being instructed to cease quoting scripture during board meetings.
First Liberty Institute and the law firm Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP filed the lawsuit on her behalf.
Ms. Rooks began her term on the Peoria School Board in January 2023.
As a regular feature of each board meeting is a “Board comments” segment, during which board members can share remarks of their choice.
Since her inauguration, Ms. Rooks has consistently begun her comments by quoting a brief scripture from the Bible. However, following complaints from Secular Communities for Arizona and Freedom From Religion Foundation, the school board chairman directed Ms. Rooks to stop quoting scripture during this designated comment time in August.
The complaint argues that Ms. Rooks’ practice of reciting a Bible passage without further commentary or proselytization does not breach the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.
It cites historical practices from Presidents Washington and Lincoln to President Biden, who have frequently recited scriptures in their official capacities.
The Peoria Unified School District, located approximately 32 miles northwest of Phoenix, is one of Arizona’s largest, boasting 42 schools and serving over 36,000 students.
The district’s attorneys and superintendent are accused in the lawsuit of overlooking federal and state laws that safeguard the free exercise of religion and freedom of speech.
An email from the district’s external counsel, Lisa Anne Smith, was included in the filing, stating that reading Bible verses at board meetings contravenes the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause and Arizona’s Open Meeting Law.
A Freedom from Religion Foundation letter accused Ms. Rooks of promoting “Christian nationalism” and encouraging her supporters to attend board meetings in large numbers, occasionally disrupting official proceedings.
Andy Gould, Senior Counsel at First Liberty, emphasized Ms. Rooks’ dedication to her role, stating, “Heather takes her responsibilities serving the parents and students in her community seriously, and quotes Bible verses as a source of courage and strength in performing those duties.”
Expressing her gratitude for being a part of the Peoria Unified School board, Ms. Rooks said, “As a member of the school board, I understand the weight and significance of all of our decisions, and simply find quoting scripture out loud to be encouraging to myself and to many in attendance.”