University of Iowa Restores Funding of CLS Chapter

On October 22, the University of Iowa rescinded its earlier decision to revoke the funding of the law school's Christian Legal Society chapter.

On or about September 25, 2008, the CLS chapter submitted a request for funding to the Student Assembly Budgeting & Allocating Committee. The Committee rejected the chapter's funding request based on the notion that the chapter commits "religious discrimination" by drawing its leaders and voting members from among those who voluntarily embrace the CLS Statement of Faith.

On October 20, Center Litigation Counsel Casey Mattox sent a letter to the university's general counsel. On October 22, the Committee informed chapter representatives that the general counsel had instructed them not to deny the chapter funding based upon the Statement of Faith requirement.

Iowa attorney L. Craig Nierman assisted the Center.