JOINT NEWSFLASH – May 29, 2008
From: Private and Home Educators of California (a program of Family Protection Ministries) and Christian Home Educators Association of California (CHEA).
The California Court of Appeal has scheduled its rehearing of the In re Rachel L. case for June 23, 2008.
Two amicus briefs that were accepted by the court include one filed jointly by CHEA, California Homeschool Network and HomeSchool Association of California and a second brief filed jointly by Home School Legal Defense Association, Focus on the Family, and Private and Home Educators of California (a program of FPM). In order to assure the greatest likelihood of the court accepting briefs covering all the issues involved from a strong homeschool advocacy position, HSLDA helped to coordinate the interested groups and assure that each group would focus on different issues or perspectives. We are pleased that the strategy worked and that all our briefs were accepted.
In addition to accepting our briefs, the court requested and received briefs from the parties to the case: the parents, the children, and Child Protective Services. Also, the court requested and received briefs from interested organizations, including the California Department of Education, Governor Arnold Schwarzenneger, Sunland Christian School and Members of the U. S. Congress.
At the upcoming hearing, the court will hear arguments from the parties to the case, which are the parents, the children, and Child Protective Services. The court should also consider the arguments presented to them in the many written amicus briefs that the court has accepted.
The court’s new decision is expected to be issued in the fall. Please pray for a positive outcome.