Court Grants Stay for Choice Program: Kids Safe Through U.S. Supreme Court Appeal

John Kramer
John Kramer · March 8, 2001

Washington, D.C.-The Institute for Justice this afternoon welcomed the decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit allowing the Cleveland Scholarship Program to continue operating while the Institute seeks U.S. Supreme Court review of the Sixth Circuit’s earlier ruling striking down the program on First Amendment grounds. The stay issued today by the Sixth CircuChoiceit will remain in effect until the U.S. Supreme Court resolves the Institute’s appeal.

“The kids are safe for now,” declared Clint Bolick, the Institute’s vice president and litigation director. “We are grateful that almost 4,000 children won’t have their education disrupted. We are confident that these kids will remain in their current schools for years to come once the U.S. Supreme Court issues its decision.”

The Institute, which represents five families participating in the Cleveland Scholarship Program, had asked the Sixth Circuit on Monday to issue the stay. The Institute plans to file a petition for U.S. Supreme Court review by the end of May and expects the High Court to announce whether it will hear the case when it comes back from its summer recess in September or October.