Peoria Unified board member sues district over ability to quote Bible

Peoria Unified School District board member Heather Rooks is suing the district for what she says is infringing her right to quote Biblical scripture during public meetings.

The lawsuit comes after another group had threatened to sue the district and Rooks if she did not stop quoting the Bible from the dais.

Rooks’ lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Arizona, was backed by Plano, Texas-based First Liberty Institute.

“I am grateful to be a part of the Peoria Unified School board. 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,” Rooks said in a press release regarding the lawsuit.

The filing contends because Rooks’ recitation of a Bible passage “without comment, elaboration, or proselytization, during her board comments doesn’t violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.”

The lawsuit details all of Rooks quotes from the Bible through June. Several came after a letter to the district from the Madison, Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation, which contends the quotes during Rooks’ official duties violate the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution.

At the time, both Rooks and then-board member Rebecca Hill were quoting the Bible during meetings. The foundation singled out Rooks for what it said was openly embracing Christian nationalism and inviting supporters to meetings where they sometimes disrupted proceedings.

“While board members are free to promote their personal religious beliefs however they wish in their personal capacities outside of the school board, as government officials they cannot be allowed to commandeer the board in order to impose their personal religious beliefs on district students, parents, and employees,” the letter said.

The foundation has previously won a court battle in Arizona against the Chino Valley Unified School District for inserting religion into proceedings.

But officials with the First Liberty Institute said they believe Rooks has not run afoul of the Establishment Clause.

“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,” said Andy Gould, senior counsel at First Liberty. “Like so many dedicated public leaders throughout our history, Heather most certainly can use inspirational quotes from religious, historical, and philosophical sources and figures as a source of personal inspiration, as well and encouragement to the community at-large.”